Key Takeaways:
Fairshake and Leading the Future have deployed over $100 million to influence the 2026 midterm election outcomes. A Politico poll found 45% of Americans view crypto as too risky, potentially hurting industry-backed candidates. Lobbyists for OpenAI and Ripple seek a federal framework by 2027 to preempt a patchwork of state-level AI laws. Politico Poll: 45% of Americans Say Cryptocurrency Risks Outweigh Potential ReturnsPolitico’s reporting notes that several of these groups are already becoming the most dominant players on the political battlefield, spending heavily for candidates on both sides of the aisle. In some cases, these tech-focused entities are rivaling the fundraising of long-established party groups. It is too early to say how candidates associated with these groups will fare in November, but the two industries could draw different reactions from voters.
The AI groups spending big in elections want to ensure their nascent industry is regulated by one set of federal rules rather than a state-by-state patchwork, according to Politico’s findings. While the tech sector leans toward the GOP’s deregulatory approach, some lobbyists are open to strong federal rules on AI in exchange for a ban on state laws. However, the polling suggests these efforts may run into broader public skepticism regarding job security and safety.
The Politico poll was conducted by Public First from April 11 to 14, surveying 2,035 U.S. adults online. Results were weighted by age, race, gender, geography, and educational attainment. The overall margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.2 percentage points. Smaller subgroups have higher margins of error, Politico’s study noted. The Politico editorial regarding the industry poll was co-authored by Erin Doherty, Jasper Goodman, Jessica Piper, Daniel Barnes, and Brendan Bordelon.
