Mike Rogers

A Republican supporter's birthday tribute to Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers backfired spectacularly on Tuesday after she posted an AI-altered photo that gave the former congressman a conspicuously jacked physique — and his likely Democratic opponent pounced.

Abby Ronson, a political operative at Convergence Media who claims on her X profile to be a former staffer for both Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA), posted the image with the caption "HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Michigan's next Senator, @MikeRogersForMI!!! LET'S GET TO WORK."

X flagged the post "Made with AI."

A side-by-side comparison with the original photo — surfaced by Joey Hannum, senior communications advisor to the Michigan Democratic Party — makes the manipulation unmistakable. Rogers' neck, shoulders, chest, and arms were all substantially bulked up in the altered version.

Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a Democratic candidate for the seat, didn't miss a beat.

"This is gender affirming care," she wrote on X, reacting to Ronson's post.