AI PAC spent millions to form Congress — here’s how they fared

American Mission also spent more than $500,000 each supporting Republican House candidates Aaron Flynt of Montana and Laurie Buckhout of North Carolina, both of whom lost. LTF’s Democratic spending arm, Think Big, was fortunate to support Florida Congressman Jared Moskowitz in his re-election bid.

Groups advocating for stronger AI safeguards have also experienced mixed results.アンスロピックが支援するパブリック・ファーストは、傘下のＰＡＣを通じて敗れた数人の共和党員を支援したが、民主党候補者を支援することでより大きな成功を収めた。また、出版時に選挙戦をリードしていたカリフォルニア州のスコット・ウィーナー上院議員を支援するPACにも300万ドルを寄付した。

Meanwhile, the Guardrail Alliance, a group that seeks to make the extraction of funds from AI companies a political liability, spent more than $1 million each on two defeated candidates: California Rep. Jimmy Gomez and Montana Rep. Flint. He also spent $300,000 supporting Angela Gonzalez-Torres, who defeated Gomez.

It’s hard to separate the impact of AI spending from the broader Democratic wave that swept Tuesday’s election.中間選挙で共和党支援に5億ドルをつぎ込んだと伝えられるイーロン・マスク氏も、多くの候補者の敗北を経験した。 In fact, the LFT also supported several candidates it thought had a good chance of winning, but ultimately lost to the Democrats.

But for LTF, the general election was not the main focus.同団体は投票日を前にTechCrunchに対し、予備選（各党の候補者を選ぶコンテスト）の方が資金のより効果的な使い方だと考えていると語った。 That’s because spending on primaries increases name recognition and helps candidates set the AI ​​policy agenda.

Guardrail Alliance political director Charlie Brettler had another theory as to why LTF spent relatively little in the general election.

“They don’t want their money to be an issue in the election,” Brettler said.同氏は、AIPACと呼ばれる親イスラエルロビー団体がアブドゥル・エルサイード氏と対立する民主党候補ヘイリー・スティーブンス氏を支援するために3000万ドル近くを費やしたミシガン州上院予備選挙を指摘した。 Mr. Stevens conceded to Mr. El-Sayed in the primary, and Mr. El-Sayed won the Senate seat.

“AIPAC was a hot topic in that race,” Brettler said. 「人々がAI億万長者を嫌っていることは知っています。彼らはこれらの企業を経営する人々を嫌っています。彼らはテクノロジー業界が行う政治資金やロビー活動に非常に不信感を抱いており、嫌悪感を抱いています。彼らが競争の激しいレースに資金を投じれば、候補者にとっては大きな責任となるだけです。」

A key battle among AI PACs, whether pro-industry or pro-regulatory, is whether Congress should establish a national AI framework that overrides state laws or preserve the ability for states to impose their own safeguards.

Neither side seems willing to back down.単一の国家AI枠組みを支持するLTFは、2028年の選挙でも支出を続ける計画であるとTechCrunchに語ったが、一方でGuardrails AllianceはAI業界の支援を受けた対立候補を維持したいと述べている。

Brettler said LTF’s ads rarely touch on AI, instead focusing on issues that are popular with each candidate, while Guardrail Alliance’s ads specifically paint a picture of who is taking money from the AI ​​industry.

“Our goal is to make AI money politically toxic,” Brettler said.