The AI industry is using the 2026 midterm elections as a battleground to shape the future of regulation, with major players like Andreessen Horowitz, Anthropic, and OpenAI pouring tens of millions into competing super PACs. Already, these groups have spent over $65 million, with tens of millions more sitting in reserve, creating what amounts to a proxy war over how the next Congress will govern artificial intelligence.

Why Is the AI Industry Spending So Much on Elections?

The stakes for AI companies have never been higher. The industry is facing a critical moment as more people use more advanced models than ever before, yet AI has become deeply unpopular with the public. Some states are even considering data center moratoriums, like the one New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed into law.

The Trump administration has generally taken a friendly approach to AI regulation, but tensions have flared after the White House slowed the release of the latest frontier models from Anthropic and OpenAI. Both companies are also closely watching what the Trump administration and lawmakers decide to do about China-based open weight AI models like Moonshot AI's popular Kimi K3.

Which Groups Are Spending the Most on Pro-AI Candidates?

The biggest player so far is Leading the Future, a pro-AI network of super PACs associated with Silicon Valley's tech elite. The group's main super PAC has raised just under $76 million as of the end of June, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

The funding sources reveal the depth of commitment from major AI backers:

• Andreessen Horowitz: Contributed $50 million to Leading the Future's main super PAC
• Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz: Each donated $12.5 million personally, totaling $25 million
• Greg Brockman and Anna Brockman: OpenAI's president and his wife donated $25 million combined
• Perplexity: Contributed $100,000 to the pro-AI network

Leading the Future has split its resources between Democratic and Republican races through two affiliated super PACs. The group redirected $20 million to Think Big, a Democratic-focused super PAC, while another $20 million went to American Mission, its Republican counterpart.

Think Big and American Mission have already spent over $29 million combined. Think Big has spent over $18 million so far, with $8 million alone spent against Assemblyman Alex Bores in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th congressional district. Bores, who once worked at Palantir, had called for stronger AI regulations during his time in the New York legislature. American Mission has spent $10.7 million thus far, boosting 19 Republican candidates running for Congress.

OpenAI has distanced itself from Brockman's donations after Leading the Future received significant attention, saying he is acting in his personal capacity. However, Brockman explained his philosophy on political giving in a lengthy post on X at the end of 2025, writing that "being pro-AI does not mean being anti-regulation".

Brockman

How Are Pro-Regulation Groups Responding to This Spending?

In response to Leading the Future, two former congressmen have formed a competing political network. Republican Chris Stewart of Utah and Democrat Brad Carson of Oklahoma created Public First to back candidates who support AI regulation. Public First Action, the umbrella organization for a trio of super PACs, is not required to disclose its donors.

Anthropic has become the primary financial backer of the pro-regulation movement. The company first donated $20 million in February, then doubled its support with an additional $20 million in July, bringing its total contribution to $40 million. Anthropic said it doubled its support due to rapid advancements in AI, including the development of its Claude Mythos model, which is so advanced that as of late July it remains accessible only to a limited number of companies and organizations due to concerns about its hacking capabilities.

"Our donation to Public First Action is one way in which we're trying to raise the salience of this urgent policy debate," Anthropic stated in its July donation announcement.

Anthropic, AI Safety Company

In June, Public First Action said it had raised $80 million thus far. Carson previously told Business Insider that he felt good about Public First's odds, even if the group was likely to be outspent by Leading the Future. At the time, Public First Action aimed to raise $50 million.

"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," Carson said.

Brad Carson, Former Congressman and Co-Founder of Public First

Public First has two super PACs focused on different parties: Jobs and Democracy PAC supports Democrats, while Defending Our Values PAC supports Republicans. Jobs and Democracy PAC has spent just under $20 million so far, with the overwhelming majority, just over $15 million, spent on boosting Bores during his unsuccessful primary campaign. Defending Our Values PAC has spent $5 million thus far.

Steps to Understanding the AI Election Spending Battle

• Identify the two sides: Leading the Future backs candidates who oppose strict AI regulation, while Public First backs candidates who support stronger regulatory frameworks for the industry
• Track the funding sources: Pro-AI groups are funded by venture capital firms like a16z and AI company leaders, while pro-regulation groups are primarily backed by Anthropic and individual donors concerned about AI safety
• Monitor the spending patterns: Watch which candidates receive the most support in key races, as this reveals which regulatory approach each side believes will win elections and shape policy
• Follow the dark money: Some groups don't have to regularly disclose their expenditures, meaning the full total of AI industry spending may not be known for some time

Meta is also getting into the spending game, establishing two different groups to support candidates aligned with their vision for AI regulation. The full scope of Meta's involvement remains unclear as the article source material was truncated.

The 2026 midterm elections have become a critical test of whether the AI industry can shape regulatory outcomes through political spending. With over $65 million already deployed and tens of millions more in reserve, the battle between pro-AI and pro-regulation forces is shaping up to be one of the most expensive industry-focused political campaigns in recent memory. The outcome could determine whether AI companies face strict oversight or lighter-touch regulation in the years ahead.

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