AI Companies Back Super PACs Targeting Congressional Candidates

Anthropic and OpenAI are each supporting super PACs that have spent millions on ads against congressional candidates. The groups have also directed spending at each other. The activity comes ahead of the June 23 primary in New York. Bores has promoted AI regulation in his campaign.

Leading the Future declined to comment on the request. Leading the Future was launched last year with backing from Palantir’s Joe Lonsdale, Andreessen Horowitz, and OpenAI’s Greg Brockman. The group has spent on both state and federal races.

Earlier this year, Anthropic donated $20 million to Public First Action, a super PAC network supporting Bores. The donation has linked Public First Action with Anthropic in public discussion. Leading the Future has been described as aligned with OpenAI.

Super PACs are not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates on ad buys or messaging. Companies have used super PACs to support candidates against other candidates. The use of super PACs to target corporate rivals is newer.

March, Innovation Council Action, a pro-AI advocacy nonprofit, was launched by Donald Trump’s former adviser Taylor Budowich. The group has a $100 million budget and focuses on promoting Trump’s AI agenda. Its donors are not required to be disclosed.

The Senate Commerce Committee is holding a hearing on sports betting and prediction markets. Patrick McHenry, a former House Financial Services Committee chair now at Andreessen Horowitz, will testify for the Coalition for Prediction Markets. A separate group called FairPredicts has launched a six-figure ad buy timed with the hearing.

The ads parody earlier Kalshi advertising.