By Trendsetter Tribune 
Tom Glass, a Republican candidate for Texas House District 17, learned a tough lesson in “digital due diligence” this week after an AI-generated campaign photo went viral for all the wrong reasons. While Glass hoped to celebrate a key endorsement from United Republicans, the AI software he used seemed to have a bit of a geographic identity crisis.
Political consultant Joey Parr, a former Texas House chief of staff, was quick to point out that the “patriotic” backdrop in Glass’s photo featured the Chilean flag rather than the Texas Lone Star. While both share a single star and a red-white-and-blue palette, the Chilean flag’s blue canton is a square, whereas the Texas blue stripe spans the entire left side.
A Comedy of Errors
The errors didn’t stop at the flag. Parr also noted that the building looming behind Glass was the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., rather than the iconic pink granite Texas State Capitol in Austin.
“Nice Chilean flag, @tomgglass,” Parr quipped on social media. “And the wrong capitol. You should move to DC and try there… you might actually be able to fool folks into voting for you.”
Glass, a retired ExxonMobil IT professional and a graduate of Texas A&M, took the wardrobe malfunction in stride—mostly. His only self-critique? The AI “left off my Aggie ring!”
The HD-17 Race at a Glance
Glass is currently challenging incumbent Stan Gerdes in the Republican primary. This is Glass’s third attempt at the seat, having previously run in 2022 and 2024.
| Candidate | Background | Key Platform Issues |
| Tom Glass (R) | ExxonMobil IT (Ret.), Constitutional Advocate | Constitutional enforcement, grid protection, vaccine choice. |
| Stan Gerdes (R) | Incumbent State Representative | Traditional conservative legislative agenda, local infrastructure. |
The Rise of AI in 2026 Politics
The Glass incident highlights a growing trend in the 2026 midterm cycle. While AI allows cash-strapped grassroots campaigns to generate professional-looking assets, it also introduces “hallucinations” that can lead to political embarrassment.
Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature debated HB 42, which would require a “digital watermark” on all AI-generated political advertising to prevent voter confusion. For Glass, the confusion wasn’t intentional—just a reminder that even in the age of automation, a human eye is still required for a final “vibe check.”