Leading the Future Backs 30 Candidates, Wins 29 as $100 Million AI War Chest Targets Regulation
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 26
Leading the Future Backs 30 Candidates, Wins 29 as $100 Million AI War Chest Targets Regulation
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 26
Summary
30 candidates backed by Leading the Future’s AI-funded network have produced 29 wins so far, including new House primary victories in Arizona on Tuesday.
Nearly $25 million has already been spent by the group’s Republican and Democratic arms, while FEC filings through June 30 show more than $30 million still on hand from a launch fund topping $100 million.
Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto say the money is meant to defeat candidates favoring strict AI rules and build a bipartisan bench for lighter-touch regulation, often backing centrist, pro-business contenders.
The strategy has drawn backlash after an $8.15 million effort helped sink AI-safety advocate Alex Bores in New York, prompting criticism over hardball tactics and some distancing by OpenAI.
The fight is widening as rival AI-safety groups and donors mobilize against Leading the Future, underscoring how midterm spending is becoming a proxy battle over U.S. AI regulation.
As tech billionaires pour millions into local races, who is really pulling the strings on the laws that will govern artificial intelligence?
Will Silicon Valley's massive spending spree successfully rewrite the future of AI regulation, or will it trigger a massive public backlash?
The $320 Million AI Election: Tech Money, Dark Money, and the Grassroots Revolt Defining 2026
Overview
The 2026 midterm elections have been dramatically reshaped by over $320 million in AI and cryptocurrency super PAC funding, turning local races into national battles over tech regulation. In New York, tech-backed PACs spent millions both opposing and supporting candidates like Alex Bores, while similar high-stakes spending played out in Florida’s gubernatorial race. These PACs often used shell companies to hide their spending, fueling public distrust and triggering FEC complaints. Meanwhile, grassroots backlash against AI data centers—driven by concerns over resource use and rising bills—has led to widespread protests, local bans, and even the cancellation of billion-dollar projects, showing how national tech money is colliding with local resistance.