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A candidate for the state legislature who recently lost the support of North Carolina House Democrats over controversial social media posts argued at a campaign forum that she is a “victim of fake, generated AI.”
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Shelly Headen, who is running for the state House District 62 seat in Guilford County against incumbent Republican Rep. John Blust, said at a forum on Thursday evening that “there needs to be a lot more AI legislation to protect the truth.”
The NC House Democratic Caucus earlier this month pulled support for Headen over 2025 social media posts that reference calls to violence, which the party called “unacceptable.”
Far-right news and commentary website Breitbart News previously reported that Headen posted a photo of the Dachau concentration camp in Germany and said that the camp “is where Trump supporters belong.”
Brad Young, the executive director of the NC Institute of Public Leadership, moderated the forum and asked Headen and Blust what role the state legislature should play in regulating artificial intelligence.
Headen answered first.
“Well, as you all know, I am a victim of fake, generated AI,” she said. “So I, of course, would like to lead legislation on AI because, at this point, we don’t know what is true and what is not.”
She did not elaborate on her experience with AI, or specifically tie it to the social media posts.
Headen added that AI has “lost control” and is “creating job loss for young graduates out of college.”
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Blust said the state “might need a campaign law” for AI that would require disclosure if a photo was altered using the technology.
Headen did not answer an inquiry Thursday night from The News & Observer seeking more details.
The Assembly previously reported that Headen said she could not remember the exact wording of her posts, but that she had been outspoken against the Trump administration.
The Assembly first reported on one comment on social media that reads: “I think our only hope is an attack on US soil… preferably Alabama, Louisiana… where the stupid people live.”
She also told The Assembly she will continue her candidacy. The outlet reported that Headen said she “sacrificed myself like Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross,” and that if “a few angry moments on social media are the end, then so be it.”
The NC House Democratic Caucus did not respond Thursday night to a request for comment.
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