The survey, conducted by Data for Progress and Guardrails Action, highlights a bipartisan skepticism toward the influence of Big Tech in the 2026 midterm elections. While roughly 72% of respondents expressed concern over AIPAC’s financial involvement, the AI sector has faced similar levels of public scrutiny in significantly less time. Shaunna Thomas, executive director of Guardrails Action, noted that candidates accepting support from corporate AI super PACs now face a substantial liability, comparing the industry’s rapid rise in toxicity to that of the NRA.
In section Newsroom
Voters View AI Campaign Cash as More Toxic Than AIPAC Donations
Eighty-five percent of likely voters in Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio view campaign contributions from artificial intelligence firms as a significant red flag, according to new polling data. This sentiment positions AI industry money as more politically damaging to candidates than donations from long-established power brokers like AIPAC or Wall Street.
Super PACs connected to OpenAI and Anthropic have already poured over $55 million into upcoming races. This spending has drawn sharp criticism from figures like Rep. Greg Casar, who has urged fellow Democrats to refuse billionaire-backed tech funding. Beyond campaign finance, the data reveals deeper anxieties: approximately 60% of voters believe AI poses a threat to the survival of humanity and American democracy. Consequently, there is broad public support for strict regulatory guardrails, including guaranteed job programs and healthcare protections for workers displaced by automation.
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