Two rival Super PACs, backed by leading artificial intelligence firms Anthropic and OpenAI, are spending millions to influence the 2026 midterm elections. The Anthropic-allied "Public First" network advocates for candidates supporting AI safety regulations, while the OpenAI-linked "Leading the Future" supports those favoring lighter, industry-friendly federal rules.
The conflict is particularly visible in Democratic primaries, where the PACs have engaged in a costly fight, backing opposing candidates and launching attack ads. Leading the Future, backed by figures like OpenAI President Greg Brockman and venture firm Andreessen Horowitz, has a reported war chest of over $100 million. In response, Anthropic has supported Public First, which is working to build a coalition of pro-regulation candidates.