FEC data: AI-oriented PACs spent nearly $80M on the 2026 US elections, mostly before the primaries; pro-regulatory PACs outspent Leading the Future's network

Super PACs funded by AI industry leaders are spending less on contested general election races due to public backlash against AI.

AI-focused Super PACs, funded by executives from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, have spent nearly $80 million on the 2026 US election cycle. The majority of this spending occurred during the primary elections, with a significant portion directed at a single New York congressional primary. The Leading the Future PAC network, backed by OpenAI's president, and the rival Public First PAC network, funded by Anthropic's CEO, together spent over $50 million in the primaries. However, as public sentiment soured on AI and data centers, these AI PACs drastically reduced their spending on general election races. Only a small fraction of their direct expenditures has gone to contested general election races, with most of the remaining funds allocated to safe seats or via opaque channels like newly formed Delaware corporations to obscure their activities. This shift suggests a strategic pivot in response to public backlash and negative polling data.

The significant shift from aggressive primary spending to cautious general election funding indicates that AI companies are recalibrating their political engagement strategy. Public opinion, particularly concerning data center expansion and AI's impact on jobs, appears to be a more potent force than anticipated, forcing PACs to reassess their approach to avoid alienating voters. This pivot also highlights a growing trend of 'dark money' in politics, with AI PACs increasingly utilizing shell corporations to obscure their financial activities and reduce transparency, a tactic that draws criticism from campaign finance watchdogs.

The AI industry's initial push to influence elections has encountered a significant hurdle in public perception, potentially signaling a more complex and less direct path for tech influence in politics. The effectiveness of pro-regulatory PACs and grassroots movements in shaping this narrative suggests a counterbalance to corporate spending. Future spending will likely focus on less traceable methods or on influencing policy indirectly through think tanks and nonprofit affiliates, while the public's increased awareness may lead to greater demand for transparency in campaign finance.