Source: Fortune
Summary
Micah Lasher won the congressional seat in Manhattan, despite $27 million spent by two AI companies, Anthropic and OpenAI, to influence the election. Lasher pledged to pursue the same AI regulation agenda as his opponent, Alex Bores. AI-related super PACs have spent over $50 million on 2026 elections, with little to show for it. Experts say AI companies are trying to send a signal to politicians rather than influence legislation directly.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Anthropic and OpenAI spent big, but got little in return. Their strategies are about sending signals to politicians, not voters. AI regulation is not a top priority for voters, and AI-related PACs may have limited influence on actual legislation. The outcome of the NY-12 election shows that AI companies’ involvement in elections is not a guarantee of success.
The AI battlefront has shifted to the state level, with Anthropic supporting a patchwork of statewide efforts to regulate AI, while OpenAI’s Leading the Future PAC is pushing for a more hands-off approach. The outcome of this battle remains unsettled.
The real target of AI companies’ election spending is not voters, but politicians.
Author: Evan Null
