Lead

The artificial intelligence industry is spending heavily in the 2026 midterms, aiming to shape the first generation of AI legislation. According to a report by The Guardian, AI-focused Super PACs have raised roughly $100 million this cycle, with nearly half of all spending converging on a single Manhattan primary race in New York's 12th congressional district. The contest became a battleground for pro- and anti-AI groups, with more than $24 million poured into the race from tech-backed financial groups.

Coverage Comparison

The Guardian's coverage focuses on two key races: the New York primary and a Colorado congressional contest. In New York, the reporting details how a single candidate, Democratic assemblymember Alex Bores, attracted significant spending due to his sponsorship of the Raise Act, an AI safety bill. The Guardian reports that Bores lost the primary to Michael Lasher, despite the tech industry's involvement. In Colorado, the coverage highlights how committees led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and crypto billionaire Chris Larsen boosted Democrat Manny Rutinel's campaign with at least $2 million in donations, making it one of the most expensive races in the state.

Key Claims

  • AI-focused Super PACs have raised roughly $100 million this cycle, with nearly half of all spending targeting the NY-12 Democratic primary, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Think Big, an affiliate of Leading the Future, has spent $8.2 million in the NY-12 primary. Leading the Future is funded by venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, and OpenAI's Greg Brockman and his wife Anna, according to Federal Election Commission data cited by The Guardian.
  • Pro-AI political action committees put more than $8 million into the race to oppose Bores, while industry groups supporting regulation spent over $16 million to counter the attacks, according to Tech Influence Watch, as cited by The Guardian.
  • Bores finished second, losing to Michael Lasher, who also co-sponsored the Raise Act, The Guardian reports.
  • In Colorado, Democrat Manny Rutinel received at least $2 million in donations from committees led by Eric Schmidt and Chris Larsen. The committees, Somos Pac and You Can Push Back, gave $1.3 million and nearly $1 million respectively to Rutinel's campaign, according to Axios, as cited by The Guardian.
  • Rutinel supported two AI guardrail bills during his time as a state representative, while his opponent Shannon Bird opposed a similar bill, The Guardian reports.

Perspectives

Pro-AI groups

Leading the Future and its affiliates advocate for a federal framework to regulate AI, warning that a patchwork of state laws would create a compliance burden and hinder the US against China. They spent heavily to oppose Bores, who championed state-level AI safety legislation.

Anti-regulation or pro-safeguard groups

Super PACs like You Can Push Back and Jobs and Democracy, funded by individuals such as Chris Larsen, spent more than $16 million to counter the attacks on Bores, advocating for stronger AI safeguards. They also supported Rutinel in Colorado, who backed AI guardrail bills.