AI Industry Super PACs Have Spent About $78.5 Million on Federal Races This Cycle, Mostly in Primaries, a CNBC Analysis Finds
A CNBC analysis of Federal Election Commission filings through October 20 finds that rival AI-industry political groups have spent about $78.5 million on federal candidates this cycle, about 74% of it in primaries. In general-election congressional races, groups favoring faster AI development and lighter, more uniform rules have spent about $8 million, against about $6.9 million from groups focused on safeguards. The tally excludes state races and nonprofit advocacy spending.
The AI industry's election money went mostly into primaries, and a week before the November 3 midterms the two rival camps are spending far less and running close to each other. A CNBC analysis of Federal Election Commission filings through October 20 puts the total at about $78.5 million on federal candidates this cycle, with about 74% of it spent in primary contests.
The two sides#
The faster-development side is led by Leading the Future, a super PAC network that backs candidates aligned with faster AI development and lighter, more uniform rules. CNBC reports it launched in August 2025 with more than $100 million in commitments from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife, Anna, and Joe Lonsdale. Its Democratic arm is Think Big and its Republican arm is American Mission.
The safeguards side centers on Public First Action and super PACs tied to it. Their Democratic-facing group is Jobs and Democracy PAC and their Republican-facing group is Defending Our Values. NBC News reported the same split of affiliates in February. CNBC reports that Anthropic committed $20 million to Public First Action in February and another $20 million in July, and that Anthropic says its money is restricted to policy and public education and cannot fund candidate elections.
Where the money went#
In general-election congressional races, the faster-AI groups have spent about $8 million and the safeguards groups about $6.9 million, according to CNBC. The safeguards groups reported about $32.1 million in primary spending, plus about $5.5 million in runoff and special elections.
The clash CNBC highlights was New York's 12th District Democratic primary, where Think Big and Jobs and Democracy PAC together spent $23.3 million, about 40% of the two camps' primary spending nationwide, according to its analysis. CNBC reports that Think Big spent $8.3 million against state Assemblymember Alex Bores, who wrote state AI safety legislation, and that Jobs and Democracy PAC spent about $15 million supporting him. Bores lost to Micah Lasher, 39% to 35%.
In Florida's 25th District, the two sides now back opposing candidates. Think Big spent $310,000 supporting Democrat Jared Moskowitz in his primary, and Defending Our Values spent almost $857,000 supporting Republican Scott Singer and about $740,000 against one of his primary opponents, according to CNBC. Moskowitz and Singer face each other in the general election.
On the safeguards side, Guardrails Alliance reported spending $412,500 each against Republican House candidates Jay Feely in Arizona and Aaron Flint in Montana, and about $412,000 against Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez in California, CNBC reports.
Why the spending slowed#
CNBC reports that the drop partly reflects fewer competitive November races. It also cites its own All-America Economic Survey, in which 52% of registered voters said companies should pause development of advanced AI until Congress passes regulations, against 32% who favored moving ahead. CNBC, citing The New York Times, reports that the Brockmans later dropped plans for another $25 million contribution.
Limits#
- The spending figures are CNBC's analysis of FEC filings through October 20; we did not re-add the filings. Spending reported after that date is not included.
- The totals exclude state races and nonprofit advocacy spending, so they do not capture the industry's full political spending.
- CNBC calls Jobs and Democracy PAC "Anthropic-backed"; Anthropic says its own contributions cannot fund candidate elections, and we describe the PAC as tied to Public First Action.
- We checked which group sits on which side against NBC News' February reporting on the two networks.