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Two rival AI super PACs are backing the same congressman. What gives?

Two rival AI super PACs are backing the same congressman. What gives?

  • Time:

    12:30

  • Date:

    29 Jul 2026

  • Read Time:

    1 min

  • Author:

    Just2Trade Research Team

Washington Watch

The artificial-intelligence industry is following in the crypto sector’s footsteps in working to influence elections

Illustration depicting AI regulation, featuring the US Capitol building, the logos for Anthropic and OpenAI, and the word "AI" on a circuit board.
The artificial-intelligence industry is weighing in on midterm races and raising eyebrows. Photo: MarketWatch photo illustration/iStockphoto

Giants in the artificial-intelligence industry have taken the battle to dominate their booming sector to the political arena, spending big to influence the way that U.S. lawmakers end up regulating them. But in at least one race, they’re on the same side.

In New Jersey’s fifth district, five-term Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer is expected to cruise to re-election, as he’s in a safe seat for his party and he didn’t face a primary challenger. Even though Gottheimer isn’t facing a nail-biter of a contest, two warring AI super PAC operations are backing him. Leading the Future, a super PAC with links to OpenAI and a reputation for opposing extensive AI regulation, has selected him as one of the few House Democrats that it’s endorsing. Meanwhile, Public First Action, a rival super PAC operation that’s more in favor of AI regulation and is backed by Anthropic, has paid to run TV advertising that praises the congressman.

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