Artificial intelligence is emerging as a major political force in the 2026 midterm elections, with tech industry-backed super PACs raising over $100 million to influence AI policy and regulation. The largest player, Leading the Future, has already secured $100 million from prominent AI industry figures including OpenAI CEO Greg Brockman and his wife Anna, venture capital firm Andreesen Horowitz, SV Angel Founder Ron Conway, 8VC Founder Joe Lonsdale, and AI search company Perplexity.
Leading the Future describes itself as the “political and policy center of gravity for the AI industry” and plans to support candidates aligned with pro-AI agendas while opposing those who aren’t. The group has already begun spending through affiliated PACs, with Think Big spending over $118,000 against Assemblyman Alex Bores in New York’s 12th congressional district Democratic primary, and American Mission spending over $243,000 backing GOP candidate Chris Gober in Texas’s 10th congressional district.
In direct response to these pro-AI groups, former Republican Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah and former Democratic Congressman Brad Carson of Oklahoma launched Public First, a competing political network supporting candidates who favor AI regulation. The group aims to raise $50 million and operates two affiliated super PACs: Jobs and Democracy PAC for Democrats and Defending Our Values PAC for Republicans. Carson expressed confidence despite being outspent, noting that “85% of public sentiment” supports AI regulation compared to the 15% opposing it.
Meta has also entered the political arena with two state-focused super PACs. The Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California PAC will focus on California state races, while the American Technology Excellence Project will target races in other states. Meta’s strategy focuses on state-level politics, with the company warning that “Sacramento’s regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California’s technology leadership at risk.” Both Meta PACs plan to support bipartisan candidates who recognize the importance of AI development and favor policies keeping America at the forefront of global technology leadership.
Key Quotes
being pro-AI does not mean being anti-regulation
OpenAI CEO Greg Brockman explained his philosophy on political giving in a post on X, attempting to position pro-AI advocacy as compatible with some regulatory oversight, though his group backs candidates favoring lighter regulation.
We have $50 million and 85% of public sentiment. They have 15% of public settlement, and $100 million. I will take our side of that bet any day.
Former Democratic Congressman Brad Carson, co-founder of Public First, expressed confidence that public support for AI regulation would overcome the pro-AI groups’ financial advantage in the 2026 elections.
Sacramento’s regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California’s technology leadership at risk.
A Meta spokesperson explained the company’s rationale for launching state-focused super PACs, framing regulation as a threat to California’s position as a global technology hub.
Amid a growing patchwork of inconsistent regulations that threaten homegrown innovation and investments in AI, state lawmakers are uniquely positioned to ensure that America remains a global technology leader.
Meta VP of Public Policy Brian Rice outlined the company’s strategy for the American Technology Excellence Project, emphasizing concerns about fragmented state-level AI regulations.
Our Take
The emergence of AI-focused super PACs represents a watershed moment where artificial intelligence transitions from a technical issue to a central political battleground. What’s particularly striking is the speed and scale of this mobilization—$100 million raised before donors are even required to be disclosed publicly. This suggests deep anxiety within the AI industry about potential regulatory constraints that could limit growth and profitability. The counter-mobilization by Public First, while outspent 2-to-1, highlights growing concerns about unchecked AI development. The real test will be whether public sentiment truly translates into electoral success, or if concentrated tech industry spending can overcome broad but diffuse public support for regulation. Meta’s focus on state-level races is especially strategic, potentially creating a patchwork of AI-friendly jurisdictions that could complicate federal regulatory efforts. This political arms race will likely intensify as AI capabilities advance and regulatory debates become more urgent.
Why This Matters
This development marks a pivotal moment in AI policy and governance, as the technology industry mobilizes unprecedented financial resources to shape the regulatory landscape. The formation of these super PACs signals that AI regulation has become a defining political issue, with billions of dollars in business interests at stake. The battle between pro-innovation groups seeking lighter regulation and pro-regulation advocates concerned about AI’s societal impact will likely determine how America approaches AI governance for years to come.
The $100+ million in political spending demonstrates how seriously the tech industry views regulatory threats to AI development. This could fundamentally reshape congressional and state legislative approaches to AI policy, potentially influencing everything from data privacy and algorithmic transparency to AI safety standards and liability frameworks. The outcome of these political battles will affect not just tech companies, but every sector increasingly dependent on AI technology, from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and education. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, the regulatory frameworks established now will have lasting implications for innovation, competition, consumer protection, and American technological leadership on the global stage.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/artificial-intelligence-industry-super-pacs-2026-1