The AI industry has begun pouring money into elections. So far, it’s mostly paid off.
Leading the Future and Public First, two competing super PAC networks backed by AI executives and corporations, spent a combined nearly $7 million in 11 congressional primaries earlier this month.
In all but one of those elections, AI-backed candidates advanced to the next ballot, whether in the general election or primary.
Although it’s still too early, with most of the nation’s House and Senate primaries scheduled to take place between May and August, the series of wins marks the first vindication of the industry’s decision to start shaping the makeup of Congress.
This is the first election cycle in which the AI industry has decided to enter electoral politics. So far, both groups have competed in open primaries for reliably Democratic or Republican seats, meaning whoever wins the primary has a better chance of becoming a member.
Consecutive wins over Texas, Illinois, and North Carolina
Despite both representing segments of the AI industry, the two super PACs are highly opposed, each pushing different visions for AI regulation.
On one side is Leading the Future, a super PAC network funded by a number of AI donors, including OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife Anna, and Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz.
The group generally advocates for less regulation of AI and is seeking candidates who broadly support industry and innovation.
In Texas, Leading the Future spent a total of $1.4 million supporting candidates running in four congressional districts, including Tom Sell, Jace Yarbrough, Jessica Steinman, and Chris Gober.
Mr. Gober and Mr. Steinman won their respective primaries, and Mr. Sell and Mr. Yarbrough advanced to the May 26 runoff. Mr. Yarbrough’s opponent subsequently dropped out, effectively making him the candidate.
Leading the Future spent $1.1 million to support former Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean in Illinois and $509,000 to support Republican candidate Laurie Buckhout in North Carolina. Both candidates won.
The only time a super PAC failed to advance its preferred candidate in the primary was in Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District, where Leading the Future spent nearly $1.4 million supporting Jesse Jackson Jr. Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller won that race instead.
On the other side of the battle is Public First, a super PAC network partially funded by Anthropic that supports candidates who support stronger regulatory approaches to AI.
Public First’s biggest win of the year so far has been in North Carolina, where the group spent more than $1.6 million supporting Democratic Rep. Valerie Fushie as she tries to fend off a primary challenge from Durham County Commissioner Nida Alam.
The group has also had some success in Texas, spending about $830,000 supporting two Republican candidates, Alex Mealer and Carlos Dela Cruz, and former Democratic Congressman Colin Allred.
All three candidates advanced to the May 26 primary runoff election.
In statements to Business Insider, each PAC took shots at each other while touting their respective victories.
Leading the Future spokesperson Jesse Hunt said Public First has “struggled to help strong candidates avoid run-off elections and win their campaigns,” while Leading the Future has had an “unparalleled track record of success.”
Anthony Rivera Rodriguez, a Public First spokesman, said that while their PAC is “making winners,” Leading the Future is “just siding with clear winners to get the ‘scorecard.'”
New York City’s AI Super PAC Civil War
Despite their rivalry, Leading the Future and Public First did not go head-to-head in any of the 11 primaries held this month.
Public First had planned to spend about $1 million to oppose Mr. Jackson, but later chose not to do so out of respect for the family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, a spokesperson said.
However, there is one upcoming election in which the two groups will contest against each other. It is New York’s 12th Congressional District, which covers a large area of Manhattan.
In this race, Leading the Future spent more than $2.2 million on ads against New York State Assemblyman and former software engineer Alex Boas, who voted in favor of a bill to regulate AI in the state.
In response, Public First spent $477,000 supporting Mr. Boaz.
The outcome remains to be seen, but it’s a close race with several other candidates, including New York state congressman Micah Lasher, Kennedy family member Jack Schlossberg, and anti-Trump commentator and lawyer George Conway.
New York’s primary election is scheduled for June 23rd.