Pro-AI Super PACs Fully Committed to the Midterm Elections

Silicon Valley is investing tens of millions of dollars into the midterm elections occurring across the US in 2026, as the tech industry’s battle over AI regulation increasingly influences American politics. Technology leaders, investors, and firms connected to the AI boom are funding a new network of AI-centric super PACs, which is set to make AI a key topic in this year’s state and federal election campaigns.

This election spending signifies a significant escalation in the AI regulation debate that has long split Silicon Valley.

In the absence of federal movements, state legislators in New York, California, and Colorado have enacted laws over the past year mandating that large AI developers disclose safety practices and evaluate risks like algorithmic discrimination. As states propose their own regulatory approaches to AI, these initiatives have faced considerable opposition from the White House. David Sacks, the White House AI czar, has consistently maintained that America’s AI advancement is crucial in the competition against China. In December, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing Attorney General Pam Bondi to challenge state AI laws that contradict more lenient federal regulations, pushing Congress to create a national AI framework that would supersede state rules.

This situation has established clear battle lines, with concerned lawmakers, AI researchers, safety-oriented startups, and nonprofit organizations advocating for safeguards on advanced AI models on one side, while Silicon Valley’s major corporations and investors counter that stringent state regulations could inhibit AI progress.

Instead of solely opposing these initiatives, the AI sector is initiating a multimillion-dollar campaign to elect politicians who will support their agenda. This new influx of political spending groups adds further pressure on lawmakers pursuing AI safety measures.

Pro-AI PACs

The largest among them is Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by over $100 million from venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, as well as OpenAI president Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna Brockman. While super PACs generally don’t disclose their comprehensive strategies, this political group has been notably vocal about its mission to oppose candidates advocating for state-level AI regulation.

“We aim to promote a national regulatory framework for AI rather than a disjointed series of state laws,” Josh Vlasto, a leader within the super PAC, tells WIRED. “This includes fostering job creation and innovation, safeguarding children and communities, and winning the competition against China. We’ll endorse candidates who support that agenda and oppose those who don’t.”

In December, the group initiated its first television advertisements targeting specific congressional races.

One ad focuses on New York state assemblymember Alex Bores, the coauthor of a recently signed law mandating that major AI developers report their safety testing methods. Bores is currently running in a competitive primary to replace representative Jerry Nadler in New York’s 12th congressional district. The television spot, which Leading the Future announced was financed by two of its PACs, specifically highlights Bores’ position on AI, claiming his legislation contributes to a “patchwork” of AI laws and arguing that “America needs one effective 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 commented to WIRED in response to the advertisement. “I obstruct that and urge voters to evaluate me by my adversaries.”

Another ad financed by Leading the Future’s PAC network supports Chris Gober, a lawyer who previously assisted Elon Musk’s America PAC in raising over $170 million to back Trump’s 2024 election campaign. Gober is running for a position in Texas’ 10th congressional district. The ad from Leading the Future, which has since been removed from YouTube, reportedly did not address AI at all, instead branding Gober as a genuine “Trump conservative” focused on “promoting American technology investment.”