Super PACs turn AI regulation into a central campaign topic, spending millions in 2026 midterms

Super PACs Transform AI Policy Into Electoral Battleground

The 2026 midterm elections have become the first major political test for AI regulation, with dueling PACs over AI regulation injecting unprecedented sums into congressional races across the country. Public First Action, which received a $20 million donation from Anthropic, announced it is spending $450,000 to support Alex Bores in New York's 12th congressional district1

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. This brewing midterm AI war intensifies as Leading the Future, backed by OpenAI President Greg Brockman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, has already spent $1.1 million attacking Bores and plans to deploy $125 million this year to elect candidates supporting lighter regulation1

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New York Congressional Race Becomes Ground Zero

The New York congressional race in Manhattan's 12th district has quickly emerged as the epicenter of this political clash over AI policy. Bores, 35, successfully led efforts to pass the RAISE Act in New York state, which requires large AI developers to publish safety protocols and report serious misuse of their technology2

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. The legislation was narrowed significantly before becoming law late last year, but it established Bores as a driving force behind AI safety regulations1

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. Public First Action's new ads present Bores as a fearless opponent of "right-wing billionaires," referencing GOP donors behind Leading the Future who have given millions to President Donald Trump1

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Competing Visions for National AI Framework

The rival super PACs represent fundamentally different approaches to AI regulation. Public First Action, tied to three independent PACs for Republicans, Democrats and a bipartisan group, is positioning itself as the organization supporting AI safeguards and strong federal regulation and safeguards3

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. The group is making AI a central campaign topic by asking candidates for House, Senate, governor, and attorney general to state their positions on transparency, protecting kids, and workforce impact through a detailed questionnaire3

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. Leading the Future spokesperson Jesse Hunt stated the group is "committed to supporting policymakers who want a smart national regulatory framework for AI" that boosts US employment while winning the race against China1

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Bores Unveils Comprehensive AI Policy Platform

Amid the political crossfire, Bores released an eight-point plan for a national AI framework that addresses critical concerns about the technology's rapid advancement4

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. His proposals include requiring companies to report AI-related job losses, creating an AI dividend funded by productivity gains, and establishing standards allowing viewers to trace the origins and editing histories of deepfakes4

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. On child safety, Bores calls for allowing parents access to their kids' AI interactions and requiring age verification to use AI tools4

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. He also advocates for passing a national data privacy law and mandating that large AI developers inform regulators about their models' capabilities through confidential disclosures4

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Attack Ads Target Past Work at Palantir Technologies

Leading the Future's Democratic arm has circulated mailers and text messages targeting Bores for his past work at Palantir Technologies, which contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement1

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. The ads seize on Democrats' concerns over Trump's immigration crackdown, urging voters to "Reject Bores' hypocrisy on ICE"1

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. Bores has called the claims false and said he left Palantir in part due to the company's work with ICE1

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. Ironically, Leading the Future has relied on support from Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale4

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Democrats Embrace AI as Defining Campaign Issue

Beyond New York, Democrats across the country are making AI policy a defining issue on the campaign trail5

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. Mallory McMorrow, running for Senate in Michigan, has called for banning cellphones in the classroom and prohibiting chatbots from representing themselves as licensed professionals5

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. Luke Bronin, running for Congress in Connecticut, is advocating for tax policies that would spread AI-driven wealth, along with workforce reskilling and education investments5

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. Democratic strategist Andrew Mamo noted that candidates are tapping into parental concerns about screen time and mental health, stating: "The next generation of Democrats understand that AI is going to reshape the economy they work in and change how their kids grow up"5

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Millions at Stake Across Multiple States

The financial stakes extend far beyond New York. Public First Action launched ads supporting Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn's gubernatorial campaign and Nebraska Republican Senator Pete Ricketts' reelection bid1

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. Leading the Future is funneling $5 million toward Rep. Byron Donalds' run for Florida governor against incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis, who favors regulations focused on protecting consumers against AI harms3

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. The PAC is also backing Republican Laurie Buckhout in a North Carolina primary and Democrats Jesse Jackson Jr. and Melissa Bean in Illinois House primaries3

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. This widespread engagement signals that AI regulation will remain a contentious issue with implications for national security, workforce displacement, and the balance between innovation and public safety.