Silicon Valley AI Groups Spend Millions in Midterm Races
Political factions in Silicon Valley are spending millions in the 2026 midterms to influence federal and state artificial intelligence regulations.
Political groups in Silicon Valley are engaged in a costly conflict over the regulation and development speed of artificial intelligence during the 2026 midterm elections. Two primary camps have emerged: the Leading the Future network, which advocates for faster AI development and uniform federal rules, and safeguards-focused groups like Public First Action, which favor stricter safety guardrails and state-level authority.
FEC filings show the pro-development camp has spent approximately $8 million in general-election congressional races, while the safeguards camp has spent about $6.9 million. These battles have been most intense in New York's 12th District and Florida's 25th District. The safeguards effort is supported by Anthropic, which committed $40 million to Public First Action for policy and public education.
Overall spending has plummeted since the primaries due to public backlash against AI and reputational risks for major donors. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, questioned the effectiveness of political spending in improving public perception of AI. Meanwhile, Meta has scaled back its political push by seeking $25 million in refunds from funded groups. In contrast, OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife Anna committed $25 million to Leading the Future.
