AI Super PACs Pour $55.7 Million Into Midterm Elections, Obscuring Industry Ties in Campaign Ads

AI Super PACs Deploy $55.7 Million in Midterm Elections

AI in politics has reached unprecedented levels as OpenAI and Anthropic-aligned super PACs funnel $55.7 million into midterm elections, according to Federal Election Commission campaign finance data analyzed by The New York Times1

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. The spending marks a strategic effort by AI industry interests to shape Congress as federal regulation looms and public skepticism grows.

The two leading AI developers have concentrated $52.6 million on safe seats—districts unlikely to change party hands but featuring intense primary contests1

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. OpenAI-aligned Leading the Future and Anthropic-aligned Public First Action operate through separate Republican and Democratic groups, spending more heavily for Democrats than Republicans while supporting candidates across party lines.

Campaign Advertising Obscures AI Connections

Despite massive investments, AI super PACs have deliberately obscured their involvement in political campaigns. The Times reviewed 95 unique ads purchased by four major AI-backed groups—none mentioned data centers, and only seven referenced AI or AI companies directly1

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AI-generated campaign advertising has proliferated throughout midterm elections, with the Wesleyan Media Project tallying 164 AI-generated and AI-enhanced ads fueled by nearly $80 million in spending2

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. The number has since approached 180 ads, transforming how political campaigns energize voters.

Ads for Representative Barry Moore featured "CHAMPION AMERICAN INNOVATION" over images of firefighters, while Think Big, aligned with OpenAI, praised former Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. for reducing gun violence without mentioning AI1

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. Anthropic-aligned super PACs even funded opposing advertisements on immigration for Texas House candidates from different parties.

Republicans Embrace AI Tools While Democrats Show Caution

Republicans are embracing AI-generated ads far more than Democrats, with 80% of ads tracked by the Wesleyan Media Project coming from GOP candidates and supporting groups2

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. This partisan divide reflects broader political positioning on AI and data centers, with Democrats capitalizing on nationwide backlash against the technology.

In Ohio's Senate race, a Republican super PAC released an AI-generated ad depicting Democrat Sherrod Brown as an unwelcome party guest, creating an extremely human-looking artificial depiction2

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. Critics have termed such content "slopaganda"—a portmanteau of "AI slop" and "propaganda"—though recent advances enable campaigns to produce compelling, lifelike ads quickly and inexpensively.

Michael Franz, co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, noted the emotional impact: "Persuasion is often tied to the emotional punch in an ad. You can do that in creative ways with AI"2

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Campaign Finance Data Reveals AI Tools Spending Patterns

American political campaigns spend on AI tools has reached at least $17 million across 523 federal candidates since 2020, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures3

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. At least 80 federal campaigns reported spending with OpenAI since 2024, totaling approximately $50,000, with the Republican National Committee as the largest buyer at nearly $10,0003

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Anthropic has rapidly built usage among 65 candidates or committees in 2026, up from essentially zero previously, with a nearly two-to-one Democrat-to-Republican ratio3

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. Republican Senator Tom Cotton's campaign reported more than $4,000 in Anthropic software spending. Only 12% of campaigns using either ChatGPT or Claude reported expenditures to both vendors3

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Specialized political AI vendors command larger budgets. Daisychain, providing AI-powered text messaging for Democrats, has garnered about $300,000 in 2026, up from $50,000 in 20243

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. More than half came from Democrat Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Senate campaign. Republicans favor Campaign Nucleus, associated with former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, which attracted six-figure spending from the Republican National Committee and Trump-aligned PACs3

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Competing Visions Shape AI Industry Political Strategy

AI and crypto money is pouring into midterms without consensus on political objectives or party affiliation, revealing industries roiled by internal conflict4

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. Anthropic has advocated for state-level regulation and donated millions toward building public support for that approach4

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Conversely, Leading the Future represents investors and firms like Perplexity pushing President Trump and Congress to enact federal regulations superseding state legislation. The group deployed roughly $30 million across nearly 40 primaries, touting a 38-1 success record4

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. Their messaging has been tailored to specific campaigns rather than AI-focused pitches, which strategists acknowledge would be ineffective at moving voters.

Utah state senator Nate Blouin, who lost a Democratic primary to an opponent backed by over $1 million in AI-funded ads, called the strategy "so cynical," noting groups target safe seats decided in primaries while spending millions on issues unrelated to their core agenda1

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. A September 2025 Pew survey found more than 70% of Americans would think less of a candidate using AI to help write a speech3

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, explaining why groups avoid explicit AI messaging despite massive investments in voter engagement and regulation outcomes.