The artificial-intelligence industry is following in the crypto sector's footsteps in working to influence elections
The artificial-intelligence industry is weighing in on midterm races and raising eyebrows.
Giants in the artificial-intelligence industry have taken the battle to dominate their booming sector to the political arena, spending big to influence the way that U.S. lawmakers end up regulating them. But in at least one race, they're on the same side.
In New Jersey's fifth district, five-term Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer is expected to cruise to re-election, as he's in a safe seat for his party and he didn't face a primary challenger. Even though Gottheimer isn't facing a nail-biter of a contest, two warring AI super PAC operations are backing him. Leading the Future, a super PAC with links to OpenAI and a reputation for opposing extensive AI regulation, has selected him as one of the few House Democrats that it's endorsing. Meanwhile, Public First Action, a rival super PAC operation that's more in favor of AI regulation and is backed by Anthropic, has paid to run TV advertising that praises the congressman.
The two opposing super PAC operations are trying to align themselves with Gottheimer because he looks on track to be influential in any AI regulations that the House crafts in the next couple of years - especially if Democrats regain control of that chamber of Congress in November's midterm elections. He already has sponsored some AI-related bills, serves as co-chair of a new House Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy and previously was co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
"He is poised to play a very influential role in helping set AI policy, and both sides in the AI-regulation debate are trying to make inroads with him to build a positive working relationship with him and hopefully bend his ear on what they think is most important as Congress sets new rules for artificial-intelligence companies," said Michael Beckel, director of the money-in-politics reform program at Issue One, a nonprofit advocacy group.
Betting on Gottheimer is just a small part of the AI's industry's strategy to shape U.S. regulations for the fast-moving sector. In the 2024 election cycle, many of the same tech-industry players successfully deployed a similar plan for cryptocurrency policy - spending millions to back pro-crypto candidates and defeat crypto skeptics. Leading the Future expects to have more than $100 million to spend in the 2026 election cycle, while Public First Action has more than $40 million to work with.
Though Leading the Future and Public First Action are often on opposite sides of regulatory debates, it makes sense that they'd back the same influential lawmaker, according to Robin Kolodny, a Temple University professor of political science with an expertise in campaign finance.
"Things like donations and endorsements do definitely increase your probability of having a meeting when you want one, but that may be only something you ask for a couple of times," she said. Kolodny also emphasized that it's politically savvy for industry groups to support the re-election of incumbents in safe seats, rather than just focusing on the relatively few of the House's 435 contests that are competitive.
"What are we going to have - 40, 45 maybe semi-competitive House races? So if the other 380 or so are coming back, no matter what party they are, you should make sure you're on good terms with them," she said.
'He can make sure AI serves us'
The OpenAI- and Anthropic-affiliated super PACs are fighting in part to influence the way policymakers approach individual states' regulations for AI.
Proponents of a moratorium on state AI laws or similar proposals say they want to prevent a patchwork of laws across the country that could stifle innovation, and instead want a national framework from the federal government. Leading the Future is in this camp. A moratorium on state laws almost was enacted through last year's Republican megalaw. Public First Action and other critics have said proposals that block state AI regulations will gut existing protections against harmful practices and prohibit future safeguards.
A Democratic primary race earlier this year to select the party's nominee to represent part of New York City in the U.S. House of Representatives illustrates the stakes of the battle for both sides of the fight. Leading the Future worked to defeat New York state assemblyman Alex Bores, who sponsored the state's new AI law, which aimed to impose safety measures on developers, such as security protocols and incident reports. He narrowly lost to fellow Democrat Micah Lasher, who voted for the measure, though what was enacted had been softened and scored Leading the Future's support.
Bores got help from Public First Action. In his victory speech, Lasher didn't exactly thank any AI industry players, saying: "I have some news for the two big AI companies who have taken such an unusual interest in who won this congressional seat: I won't be taking my cues from either of you when it comes to protecting our kids, our jobs, our environment."
In that race, Leading the Future spent at least $6 million through its affiliate Think Big to defeat Bores, while Jobs and Democracy, the Public First Action affiliate, shelled out nearly $4 million in its unsuccessful attempt to help Bores win.
The messaging from both super PAC operations tackles the issue of state regulations. A Public First Action ad in support of Gottheimer tells viewers in its voiceover that "Washington is talking about a law that could block states from keeping us safe from AI scams - that's why New Jersey needs leaders like Congressman Josh Gottheimer."
Gottheimer "can make sure AI serves us, not the other way around. Call Congressman Gottheimer and tell him to stand strong for AI safeguards," says the ad, which appears to have been produced in a way that doesn't require a Federal Election Commission disclosure.
So far, Public First Action and an affiliate, the Jobs and Democracy PAC, have spent a total of $119,000 on TV advertising in support of Gottheimer, according to AdImpact, an ad-tracking company. The super PAC operation has received $40 million in funding from Anthropic, as well as $1 million from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
Public First Action spokesperson Anthony Rivera-Rodriguez said in a statement that the operation's priorities include "preserving states' authority to protect families from AI harms," as well as "accountability and transparency for the companies building advanced AI" and "maintaining export controls that keep our most powerful chips out of the hands of adversaries like China." He stressed that Gottheimer has expressed opposition to some legislation that would preempt state AI laws.
In response to a request for comment, Leading the Future strategist Josh Vlasto said his operation has provided "clear and consistent support for national regulation" that includes "strong and smart guardrails for kids, users and communities." He also pointed to an earlier statement that noted that an initial version of New York's AI measure would have forced companies to "navigate conflicting state and federal requirements."
That statement named Gottheimer as part of a "broad, bipartisan coalition" of lawmakers that's taking on AI issues "thoughtfully and substantively" and that Leading the Future is supporting. Leading the Future announced its endorsement of Gottheimer and four other House Democrats in April.
Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey is shown taking part in a House hearing.
Temple's Kolodny said Leading the Future's endorsement is significant because it "means that they're not going to oppose him."
Leading the Future can be a formidable foe, as it has reported raising about $75 million as of June 30. A total of $25 million has come from OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna Brockman. The two co-founders of venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which counts OpenAI among its many investments, also have each provided $25 million.
Gottheimer has faced pressure from the Tech Oversight Project, a left-leaning advocacy group, to reject Leading the Future's endorsement. The group released a letter in April that asks Gottheimer and the other four endorsed House Democrats to "disavow support" from the super PAC.
"Rejecting an endorsement is rare, but it is something that occasionally happens if a certain individual, company or industry is seen as too controversial or too highly charged," Issue One's Beckel said. Gottheimer's office and re-election campaign didn't respond to a request for comment.
Leading the Future and Public First Action are the AI-related super PAC operations getting a lot of the attention, but others are making endorsements and spending heavily as well. Meta Platforms (META) has provided $45 million to the American Technology Excellence Project and $20 million to a California-focused super PAC called Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California. In addition, super PACs like Guardrails Alliance and You Can Push Back formed in the spring to oppose Leading the Future and its allies.
Beyond the question of whether or not to pre-empt state laws, another big issue in AI regulation that industry-backed super PACs are focused on is how to handle cutting-edge models, especially as some of them have spooked lawmakers and analysts. The fears stem from the models' abilities to autonomously find and exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities or go rogue. Another key issue donors are gearing up to influence is how to address the AI industry's huge need for electricity.
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