AI Industry Super PAC Raises $125 Million to Shape AI Regulations in Midterm Elections

Andreessen, Horowitz Fuel AI Industry's $51 Million Midterm Haul

The super PAC plans to spend in state races and has already identified some races where it will spend cash, including opposing Alex Bores in New York and backing Chris Gober in Texas. Venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz are among the major donors who fueled a $50.8 million haul for a super political action committee that plans to spend big in the midterm elections as it pursues a business-friendly regulatory environment for artificial intelligence. Leading the Future super PAC and its affiliated groups entered 2026 with a combined $49.6 million cash on hand, according to their latest filings with the Federal Election Commission released Friday. Andreessen and Horowitz, whose eponymous venture capital firm is a major proponent of AI, each gave $12.5 million. OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife Anna Brockman also contributed $12.5 million. SV Angel founder Ron Conway donated $500,000 to Leading the Future's Democratic-focused affiliate, while Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale gave $250,000 to its GOP-facing entity. Silicon Valley is spending more than ever to fend off a growing patchwork of state rules that the industry says could hamper its ability to quickly develop the AI technologies fueling US economic growth. Leading the Future's cash pile will allow the industry to help political candidates it sees as friendly to their cause and oppose potential antagonists. The super PAC's leaders said it plans to spend in state races as well. Leading the Future announced Friday that the group and its affiliates had $125 million in contributions and commitments, including money secured by its nonprofit advocacy arm, Build American AI. The groups also plan to create a network of state-level super PACs. The strategy is similar to that of the crypto super PAC Fairshake, which spent $133 million in the 2024 election cycle backing candidates from both parties friendly to the digital asset industry. It supported Ruben Gallego, a Democrat who won his Arizona Senate race against Trump ally Kari Lake, and Republican Bernie Moreno in Ohio, who defeated incumbent Sherrod Brown, a crypto critic. Earlier: Crypto World Takes Victory Lap After Big Politics Bet Pays Off The Leading the Future network has already identified some races where it will spend cash. The super PAC's affiliate that focuses on Democrats, Think Big, opposes Alex Bores, a state assemblyman, in New York. Bores sponsored legislation that would have tightly regulated AI companies. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a less stringent version of the bill in December despite aggressive opposition from Andreessen and Horowitz. Think Big has spent about $586,000 on the race so far. American Mission, the Republican arm, has spent $748,000 backing Chris Gober, a political lawyer who worked for Elon Musk's super PAC during the 2024 election. Gober is running in a crowded primary field for an open congressional seat in Texas.

AI industry super PAC raises $125 million in 2025

PAC began 2026 with $70 million cash on hand after spending in New York and Texas congressional races. A new super PAC backed by AI companies raised $125 million in 2025 to further its goal of backing candidates who support national AI regulations rather than state-by-state rules. The group, Leading the Future, said it has $70 million on hand at the end of the year after forming last summer, according to an announcement ahead of the PAC filing its first campaign finance report. Several states have either passed or are considering their own AI laws, setting up a patchwork of regulations that some in the AI industry warn will hamper progress in developing more advanced technology. "Leadership in AI innovation will define economic growth, national security, and America's role in the global economy, and lawmakers can't afford to be distracted by demagoguery that would cause us to fall behind," Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto, the two political strategists leading the PAC, said in a statement. "Candidates who grasp the stakes can expect us to help elevate that message." While the full filing showing all of the PAC's expenses and donors has yet to be made public, the PAC has already jumped into the midterms. The group is opposing Alex Bores, a Democratic candidate for a Manhattan congressional seat who lead the push for New York's recently adopted AI law. The group is also supporting Chris Gober, a Republican congressional candidate in Texas. The PAC, which has said it would support both Democratic and Republican candidates, is also connected to advocacy group Build American AI, which launched a $10 million campaign to push a uniform national AI policy. Contributors to Leading the Future include private equity firm Andreessen Horowitz, Open AI co-founder Greg Brockman, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, SV Angel Founder Ron Conway and AI software company Perplexity.