AI-Funded Super PAC Launches Data Center Ad Blitz Targeting Battleground States Ahead of 2026 Midterms

A new advocacy group backed by prominent Silicon Valley figures is launching a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign to promote data centers in key battleground states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The group, called Build American AI, is affiliated with Leading the Future (LTF), a super PAC heavily funded by venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, along with OpenAI President Greg Brockman. Build American AI plans to target voters in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin, where debates over data centers have become a defining issue in statewide races. The group told Bloomberg that its ad budget will reach into the millions of dollars, emphasizing the economic and technological benefits of hosting large-scale computing infrastructure. Leading the Future launched with over $50 million in seed funding and has primarily used those resources to support political candidates aligned with AI-friendly policies, according to Politico. The super PAC also actively opposes candidates who advocate for restrictive AI regulations. However, LTF has drawn criticism for its tactics, particularly its use of "astroturfing," which involves masking paid campaigns as grassroots movements. In June, OpenAI publicly distanced itself from LTF in a blog post, stating: "OpenAI does not direct the activities of LTF, or have visibility into their operations." The company also condemned misleading advocacy methods, urging groups to "be clear about their policy views... and not use tactics like astroturfing that obscure the real choices facing policymakers and the public." LTF is not alone in the AI political arena. Anthropic, for instance, is a known supporter of Public First Action, a group that advocates for AI regulation. Meanwhile, Andreessen Horowitz, the venture firm co-founded by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, has become the largest donor to the 2026 midterm elections, exceeding $115 million in disclosed federal contributions. This outpaces high-profile donors like Elon Musk and George Soros. Beyond AI, the firm is also a major backer of crypto-focused political efforts, particularly through the super PAC Fairshake. As the midterms approach, the intersection of AI policy and political spending is likely to intensify, with data centers emerging as a key flashpoint in local communities and national discourse.

via TechCrunch