Ashley Webb, a Democratic Senate hopeful in Maine, is drawing attention online after social media users flagged an unusually polished AI-style image used to promote her memoir.
Webb, who identifies as a trans and intersex woman, entered the race following Graham Platner’s exit from the Senate contest after allegations of sexual assault derailed his campaign.
On Thursday night, Webb joined several other Democratic candidates onstage for a debate hosted by News Center Maine.
After the debate, online observers began circulating references to Webb’s memoir, titled “I Am Ashley,” noting that promotional material for the book featured what appeared to be an artificial intelligence-generated image of a young woman.
The image, posted on social media to advertise the memoir, depicts a young woman wearing a purple dress. Critics pointed out that the figure in the picture bears little resemblance to Webb, who is noticeably older.
During the debate, Webb was asked what qualifications she brings to a U.S. Senate campaign. She responded: “I’ve ran for office several times, didn’t win but I did.”
She continued: “I am a songwriter, I write my own books and suppose my transparency I wouldn’t lie to the people and I wouldn’t deceive the people.”
Webb added: “I’m just an angry citizen now, and if I got elected, I’d be an angry senator, and I think that would probably be their worst nightmare.”
Webb is seen here taking part in the debate at the WCSH-6 studio on Thursday night in Maine
Webb used an image generated by artificial intelligence of a young woman, seen here, to promote her own memoir ‘I Am Ashley’
According to a profile of Webb, she is running her grassroots movement under the name ‘Ashley Webb: Take No Prisoners’.
Webb wrote: ‘I will keep pushing for a healthcare system that treats patients as partners in their own care instead of obstacles to a fifteen-minute visit.
‘I will keep the same relentless, detail-driven approach I’ve used for years fighting for my own medical records and accountability, and apply it to fighting for every Mainer the system has failed.
‘As an openly trans and intersex woman, I know what it means to be told to wait, to be quieter, to let someone else speak for you.
I won’t do that in this campaign, and I won’t do it in the Senate. No Mainer – rural or urban, Democrat, Republican, or unenrolled – should have to fight this hard just to be heard by the people meant to represent them.
‘This movement doesn’t end at the convention. It continues every time someone calls my office with a problem and gets a real answer instead of a form letter.
‘That’s the standard I’m setting for this campaign, and it’s the standard I’ll bring to Washington.’
According to her Amazon profile, Webb has penned two books, her memoir and a cookbook focused on meals under 600 calories.
Webb touted her work as author when asked what credentials she has to run for office
According to her Amazon profile, Webb has penned two books, her memoir and a cookbook focused on meals under 600 calories
From left, U.S. Senate candidates David Costello, Elizabeth Dickerson, Dan Kleban, and Ashley Webb prepare for a televised debate
Her campaign website vows to make healthcare affordable, protect workers, hold corporations to account, and maintain rural infrastructure.
She also said that she would not back American taxpayers money being sent to Israel, adding: ‘I’ll always stand against occupation and unjustified military aggression.’
The site also lists her work as an author and links to a YouTube page made up primarily of music apparently made by Webb using AI tools.
Some of them reference political figures including President Donald Trump and his close adviser Stephen Miller.
The Daily Mail contacted Webb for comment.
