AI and Pro-Israel Lobbyists Pour Millions into Midterm Elections Amid Public Skepticism

The current midterm election cycle is setting a new record for the most expensive in U.S. history, with over $16 billion raised ahead of Tuesday’s voting day. This surge in campaign spending has been fueled largely by mega-donors from industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, and online gambling, who have overwhelmingly backed Republican candidates.

According to The Intercept's analysis, super PACs linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) continue to play a significant role despite growing public skepticism about special-interest money in politics. Despite this shift in sentiment, hundreds of candidates are still accepting donations from AIPAC and its affiliated United Democracy Project super PAC.

"The data overall reveals that [AIPAC is] still spending a ton of money on a lot of races," said Maia Hibbett, managing editor at The Intercept. "More often than not, their candidates are winning, making it quite meaningful."

In addition to AIPAC's influence, AI-focused super PACs have also made substantial contributions to the election cycle, particularly during primary elections. Two leading networks associated with OpenAI and Anthropic spent a staggering $50.7 million in primaries but have significantly reduced their spending as the general election approaches, dropping it to just $8.5 million.

"The polls are so startling on the public’s transformation on AI over the last year," noted Matt Sledge, an Intercept politics reporter. "The entire life cycle of these AI super PACs has followed that evolution of public opinion."

Candidates in this election cycle are increasingly positioning themselves as advocates for AI regulation and safety measures in response to public concerns about the technology's impact. This shift reflects a broader trend where candidates are attempting to align their stances with voter priorities amid growing unease over tech industry influence.

"No matter which party gets control of either or both houses of Congress, there will be a lot of people elected next week who got there on the backs of Big Tech and special interests," Hibbett warned. "The goal may just be to buy themselves a few friends in Congress because sometimes it’s as good to have a few people who can stop regulation as it is to have those who can shape and pass laws."

These spending trends underscore the significant role that powerful lobbies and tech companies continue to play in shaping U.S. politics, even as public sentiment increasingly favors greater oversight and accountability from elected officials.