WIRED’s Midterms Races to Watch

Big Tech funding and specific policies like data centers and AI are now direct factors in congressional and gubernatorial races.

Several key midterm races are being closely watched due to their unique "wired" elements, blending political contests with emerging tech and cultural trends. In Texas's 10th district, former America PAC lawyer Chris Gober, linked to Elon Musk's PAC and advising on the "DOGE" initiative, is running in a district where SpaceXAI and Tesla plan a major semiconductor facility. In Arizona's 5th, former sheriff Mark Lamb, who embraced "constitutional sheriff" and election denial narratives, is heavily favored. Kansas's 1st district features Democratic nominee Lauren Reinhold, a former federal employee affected by "DOGE" firings, challenging an incumbent. Wisconsin's gubernatorial race pits incumbent Tom Tiffany, who signed onto a lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election, against Democrat David Crowley. In Georgia's gubernatorial race, Republican Rick Jackson, who aligns with Trump's agenda and supports data centers, faces Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. Michigan's Senate race sees Democrat Abdul El-Sayed facing Republican Mike Rogers, who has received significant funding from Musk-affiliated PACs and is navigating data center policy. Finally, Ohio's gubernatorial election features entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, funded by Big Tech and aligned with "DOGE" and Trump's election views, against Amy Acton.

The infusion of significant funding from Big Tech PACs, including those backed by Elon Musk and prominent Silicon Valley billionaires, into congressional and gubernatorial races signals a growing direct influence of the technology sector on electoral outcomes. Candidates are increasingly tied to "DOGE" initiatives, AI-friendly policies, and the development of data centers, suggesting these tech-related issues are becoming central to campaign platforms and voter considerations. This trend indicates a new phase where tech interests are not just lobbying but actively shaping candidate viability and political discourse.

The involvement of "DOGE" initiatives and election denial narratives alongside tech interests suggests a potential alignment of fringe political movements with technologically advanced industries. Candidates associated with these "wired" races may represent a future political landscape where technocratic governance, controversial election stances, and the expansion of digital infrastructure are interconnected. Voters will need to navigate these complex relationships as they decide on candidates whose policies could significantly impact everything from economic development to the integrity of democratic processes.