Silicon Valley is already pouring tens of millions of dollars into the midterm elections taking place across the US in 2026, as the tech industry’s war over AI regulation moves decisively into American politics. Technology executives, investors, and companies tied to the AI boom are funding a new network of AI-focused super PACS, which is poised to make AI a major issue in this year’s state and federal elections races.
The election spending marks a sharp escalation of the AI regulation debate that has divided Silicon Valley for years.
In the absence of federal action, state lawmakers in New York, California, and Colorado have passed laws in the past year requiring large AI developers to disclose safety practices and assess risks such as algorithmic discrimination. As states offer up their own ideas about how to regulate AI, their efforts have been met with great pushback from the White House. David Sacks, the White House AI czar, has repeatedly argued that American AI progress is existential in its race against China. In December, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to challenge state AI laws that conflict with less-strict federal policy, and urging Congress to establish a national AI framework that would preempt state regulations.
This has set up decisive battle lines, with concerned lawmakers, AI researchers, safety-focused startups, and nonprofit groups pushing for guardrails on advanced AI models on one side, while Silicon Valley’s largest companies and investors on the other argue that aggressive state-level laws could hamper AI progress.
Rather than just lobbying against those efforts, the AI industry is launching a multimillion-dollar campaign to elect politicians that will be friendly to their cause. This new wave of political spending groups adds yet another layer of pressure on lawmakers advancing AI safety efforts.
Pro-AI PACs
The largest of these is Leading the Future, a super PAC with more than $100 million in backing from venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz, as well as OpenAI president Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna Brockman. While super PACs typically don’t lay out their overarching strategies, the political group has been unusually outspoken about its goal to oppose candidates who champion state-level AI regulation.
“We are looking to advance a national regulatory framework for AI and avoid the patchwork of states,” Josh Vlasto, a leader of the super PAC, tells WIRED. “That includes ensuring job creation and innovation, protecting kids and communities, and winning the race against China. We’ll support candidates that champion that and oppose those that don’t.”
In December, the group launched its first television ads targeting a few specific congressional races.
One ad targets New York state assemblymember Alex Bores, the coauthor of a recently signed law requiring major AI developers to report safety testing practices. Bores is running in a crowded primary race to replace representative Jerry Nadler in New York’s 12th congressional district. The television ad, which Leading the Future announced was paid for by two of the PACs in its network, specifically mentions Bores’ stance on AI, claiming his legislation contributes to a “patchwork” of AI laws and arguing that “America needs one smart national policy that sets clear standards for safe AI.”
“Let’s be clear, these AI billionaires have one goal: unlimited power and unlimited profits for themselves,” Bores told WIRED, in response to the ad. “I stand in the way of that and encourage voters to judge me by my enemies.”
Another ad funded by Leading the Future’s network of PACs supports Chris Gober, a lawyer who previously helped Elon Musk’s America PAC raise more than $170 million to support Trump’s 2024 election bid. Gober is campaigning for a seat in Texas’ 10th congressional district. The ad from Leading the Future, which has now been deleted from YouTube, reportedly did not mention AI at all, instead calling Gober a true “Trump conservative” who will focus on “promoting American technology investment.”
