AI-linked groups spend millions to shape the 2026 US midterms

In short: Two rival political spending networks tied to major AI companies are putting tens of millions of dollars into the 2026 US midterms.

What's going on

Political spending groups linked to the AI company Anthropic and to investors and executives connected to OpenAI are ramping up spending ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections. The money is going into ads and support for candidates, including in party primaries, where a candidate can be challenged by someone from their own party.

On the Anthropic side, the company said it is giving $20 million to Public First Action. This is a 501(c)(4), a kind of political nonprofit that can spend heavily on politics and does not have to publicly list its donors the same way some other groups do. Reports describe this effort as backing candidates who want stricter rules for AI, such as required safety checks for the most powerful systems.

On the OpenAI-connected side, a super PAC called Leading the Future is described as having more than $100 million in support from tech investors and leaders, including OpenAI president Greg Brockman. A super PAC is a political group that can raise and spend unlimited amounts on ads as long as it does not coordinate directly with a candidate. Reports say this network is supporting candidates who prefer lighter regulation and faster rollout of AI products.

Candidates and campaign workers told reporters this spending can feel intimidating. Some said they fear that taking a strong position on AI policy could trigger a sudden wave of expensive attack ads. In a few cases, ad plans were reportedly changed or canceled after pushback.

What to watch

Expect more spending as the election gets closer, especially in close primaries. Watch whether lawmakers start changing their positions on AI rules, not because of voters, but because outside groups are acting like a political “pressure campaign” (like flooding a town with billboards to force attention).

Source: NYTimes