Deepfake Rules, AI Tips & Southwest Highlights

Hello, Insiders!
 
It was great to see so many of you in Austin at our Southwest Regional. I hope those of you who attended enjoyed it, and if you couldn’t make it, there’s still time to make plans to join us in Long Beach or Atlanta this month! [ [link removed] ] My favorite highlights in this issue include practical tips on using AI and our brand new guide to help you stay on top of all of the different deepfake rules.
 
Talk soon,
 
— Anna
Membership Marketing & Communications Manager
 
P.S. We’d love to welcome you to the AAPC community. Email me at [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ] or click here [ [link removed] ] to become a member.
 
In this issue…
 • Southwest Regional Roundup
 • Making AI Work for You
 • Interesting Reads
 • Don’t Miss

AAPC Southwest Regional Conference Recap

Strategists, pollsters, and campaign pros dug into how volatile the Southwest—especially Texas—has become. Demographics are shifting, Latino voting patterns are no longer predictable, and new maps are reshaping key districts. The message was clear: campaigns must adapt faster to stay competitive.
 
Top Tips for Reaching Southwest Voters
 
 • Break away from legacy polling models. Mixed methodologies (combining phones, online panels, and SMS-to-web) help reach under-contacted voters.
 • Offer bilingual options — but don’t assume language preference. Ask, don’t guess

• Oversample key communities. Latino party identification is fluid. Pew’s June 2025 analysis [ [link removed] ] shows Trump captured about 48% of Latino voters nationally in 2024, while some Texas exit polls [ [link removed] ] put him as high as 55%, a record for a GOP candidate.
 • Create a value proposition for respondents. Campaign contact still matters—yet 52% of Latino voters in Texas reported no outreach [ [link removed] ] in 2024.
 • Recruit trusted messengers. “People just don’t like picking up the phone anymore—you’ve got to increase the level of trust if you want them to respond,” said Nancy Zdunkewicz (Z to A Research).
 • Culture is not homogenous. Manny Garcia (Seeker Strategies) underscored a core truth: “Hispanic culture is not a box to check. Oversampling and bilingual options are critical if you want accuracy in these districts.”

That precision is more important than ever: while Trump’s 2024 Latino gains were historic, Democratic-aligned Equis Research’s Summer 2025 PulseCheck [ [link removed] ] survey shows 11% of those voters are open to switching back to Democrats, suggesting further volatility.
Meanwhile, Republicans are redrawing several Texas districts to be majority Latino, betting that either GOP gains will hold or turnout will stay low.
[ [link removed] ]
 
Why It Matters
The Southwest is diverse, fluid, and under-contacted and redistricting is reshaping the map in real time. Campaigns that modernize polling, invest in cultural nuance, and rebuild trust with under-reached voters will have an edge in 2026.

Legacy Media in a Changing Texas
Across the country, legacy newsrooms are losing ground as TikTok, Substack, and independent creators claim more of the political conversation.
One in five Americans [ [link removed] ] now regularly get news on TikTok, up from just 3% in 2020; among adults under 30, it’s 43%. Legacy outlets everywhere are trying to adapt to this new reality.
That set the stage for a frank panel on what this means in Texas politics specifically: how traditional outlets fight to keep pace with digital-first voices while protecting trust.
 
“The great thing about journalism is that you don’t need a license—anyone can do it. But that’s also the drawback.” said Renzo Downey of The Texas Tribune. He explained that while new digital voices are reshaping coverage, traditional outlets must know both what their audience wants and what their audience needs—a delicate balance.
 
🔑 Top takeaways from the panel:
 • Credibility is currency: Accuracy and fairness remain the bedrock of legacy journalism in an influencer-saturated landscape.
 • Adapt, but don’t chase clout: Journalists experiment with TikToks and Reels but resist the pull to become “influencers.”
 • Editorial judgment matters: Sensational stories, like politicians’ personal affairs, aren’t worth newsroom resources unless tied to public interest.
 • Pitch smart, pitch real: Reporters prefer authentic tips and real voices over mass-produced PR pitches.
 • Coverage follows power: Whichever party is in charge—Republicans now, Democrats in decades past—will bear the brunt of scrutiny.

New Rules for AI and Voter Contact | What you Need to Know

• Don’t wait for a federal fix. Each state will keep setting its own rules which widen risks for campaigns.
 • AI can speed up research and drafts, but shouldn’t replace human creative judgement.

Day-to-day tips for using AI and messaging tools:
 
 • Run small...

Members can unlock the full list of practical AI tips—and gain access to every AAPC resource designed to keep campaigns competitive. Not a member yet? Join today [ [link removed] ] to get the complete guide and all the benefits of AAPC membership.

Interesting Reads

• Deepfakes are Everywhere, and Many Campaigns Aren’t Prepared [ [link removed] ] (NOTUS) | Featuring AAPC’s Deepfake Compliance Guide and insights from AAPC’s Julie Sweet, who underscores how the patchwork of state laws is creating challenges for campaigns.
 • 1 in 5 Americans now regularly get news on TikTok, up sharply from 2020 [ [link removed] ] (Pew Research Center)

Events & Resources — Why You Shouldn’t Miss These

• Our latest podcast episode on Deepfakes, Disclaimers, and Navigating an Evolving Landscape.
Watch the podcast here! [ [link removed] ] Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts [ [link removed] ] or Spotify [ [link removed] ] .
 • Webinar | Introducing AAPC’s Deepfake Compliance Guide: What Consultants Need to Know [ [link removed] ] | Oct 8
 • California Regional Conference [ [link removed] ] | Long Beach, CA | Oct 20-21 – Deep dive into Top-Two dynamics, influencer roles, direct mail, and expanding into non-profit/public affairs.
 • AAPC Regional Conference: Express Edition - Atlanta [ [link removed] ] | Atlanta, GA | Oct 30 – Build relationships with consultants working on high-stakes races.
 • Pollies 26 | Amelia Island, FL | Mar 24-26 – The largest gathering of political media strategists, data scientists, and campaign pros under one roof.

Connect with us on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]

New & Returning Members this Month

Bella Housley (Aristotle), Seth Bringman (Self), Amie Burkholder (Tigre Strategics), Ben Tobias (CounterPoint Messaging), Andrew Hall (Hall Consulting), Brandon Alderete (Texas Realtors), Noel Goldman (Katz Media Group), Alana Mounce (Sisneros Strategies), Jacob Buckley (PLUS Communications), Jason Fisher (AUGR), Marshal DiGiovanna (Self), Reimy Benitez (Extreme Reach), Erin Thwaites (Switchboard), Chris Ricci (COMPETE Digital LLC), Hannah Cho (Athena Strategy Group), Marcos Rodriguez Maciel (Bryson Gillette), Paul Simon (Simon Strategies), Raquel Muniz (SABIO Holdings), Shaun Room (Silverpush), Woodham Kemmer (TAG Strategies)

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