OpenAI-linked PAC doubles down in Kentucky
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A pro-AI super PAC, fresh off a string of GOP primary victories this week, plans to keep spending in Kentucky's Senate race as the AI industry tries to focus the public's attention on AI's possibilities, not its potential pitfalls.
Why it matters: Leading the Future and its affiliated nonprofit, Build American AI, are looking for allies in the next Congress to pass a national AI framework, while selling voters today on AI's economic upside.
Zoom in: Leading the Future — which has close ties with OpenAI and Andreessen Horowitz — has had more success in GOP primaries than Democratic ones.
- In the Georgia primary, the PAC spent $1.1 million helping two GOP House candidates — Houston Gaines in the 10th District and Jim Kingston in the 1st District — win in what will be safely Republican seats.
- In Kentucky's Senate race, the group has announced a $750,000 investment supporting Rep. Andy Barr that began during the Republican primary and will continue through the general election.
- In March, the group went 3-for-3 backing GOP candidates in Texas and North Carolina.
But later that month in Illinois, one candidate it backed — former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. — lost a Democratic primary, while another — former Rep. Melissa Bean — won.
- This week, another Democrat they are supporting, Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) won her primary in Oregon.
The big picture: The group believes broader AI adoption — from daily use to app downloads — helps counter the "AI-doomer" sentiment reflected in many public surveys.
- New polling from the group found that 52% of Americans believe AI will have a positive impact, compared with 36% who say it will have a negative effect.
- Optimism was especially high among Republican voters, with 60% expressing positive views of AI, according to a survey conducted this month.
- The survey sampled 1,000 registered voters and was conducted online by RMG Research, the polling firm founded by Scott Rasmussen.
Between the lines: Broader political challenges for the industry are clearly surfacing in other polls — not to mention commencement speakers being booed for pro-AI remarks.
- A potential political backlash appears to be brewing, particularly among younger voters.
- Only 18% of Americans ages 14 to 29 say they feel hopeful about AI, according to a recent Gallup survey.
The bottom line: Leading the Future and its affiliated nonprofit organization plan to spend $140 million during the 2026 midterms.
- That's part of a broader effort to establish a national framework for AI regulation and push back against a state-by-state approach to governing the technology.
