Democratic Leaders Split Over AI Regulation and Infrastructure
Democratic political figures are proposing divergent federal and state-level strategies to regulate artificial intelligence and datacenter construction ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
Democratic leaders are establishing divergent positions on artificial intelligence regulation as the 2028 election cycle begins to take shape. Kamala Harris and Representative Ro Khanna have called for stricter federal regulations, with Khanna specifically urging a bilateral safety agreement with China regarding AI inspections and standards.
State-level actions have focused on immediate safeguards and infrastructure. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order urging AI companies to create a kill switch for the technology. Meanwhile, Governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Andy Beshear of Kentucky issued executive orders in August to mandate stricter environmental and energy standards for datacenter construction to protect taxpayers and the environment.
Legislative and economic proposals vary across the party. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation to temporarily prohibit datacenter construction until federal guardrails are established, while Mark Kelly proposed an AI Horizon Fund to support infrastructure and workers displaced by automation. Pete Buttigieg criticized Congress and the federal government for failing to regulate the technology with sufficient urgency.
