AI safety advocates are treating the 2024 U.S. midterm elections as a notable victory and are preparing a coordinated political strategy for 2027–2028. That planning is summarized in a memo from Public First Action and its affiliated super PACs, organizations linked to Anthropic, which was first shared with Semafor.
Who is involved
The memo states that Public First Action receives significant funding from Anthropic and positions itself in favor of AI guardrails. It references the setbacks of the pro-AI super PAC Leading the Future, describing that group’s troubles as a "crash out," but warns against interpreting that decline as the end of Big Tech’s political efforts around AI.
The memo cautions: “It would be a mistake to read this cycle and Leading the Future’s decline as the end of Big Tech’s AI political project. … It is paramount that a pro-safety organization be prepared to counter, toxify, and ultimately overcome such an industry-backed opposition campaign.” The quote appears in English in the document.
Concrete goals for 2027
According to the memo, Public First Action has articulated several concrete objectives for 2027:
- Push Congress to pass federal AI legislation that does not preempt state laws (i.e., non-preemptive federal rules).
- Support candidates who advocate for AI safety.
- Counter pro-AI industry messaging using approximately $30 million currently on hand for campaigning.
The memo adds: “Between now and 2028, we will make sure that AI is a top-tier issue in the presidential race, in every House and Senate race, and in gubernatorial, attorney general, and state legislative races.” That language signals an intent to make AI policy a central theme across federal and state contests through the next election cycle.
Why this matters
Public First Action’s plans show that political competition over AI regulation will remain active. By pursuing federal legislation that preserves state authority and by backing sympathetic candidates, the organization aims to shape both the legal framework and public debate on AI safety.
Making the memo public clarifies that, even if some industry-backed political efforts have faltered, the overall contest for influence on AI policy is ongoing and that pro-safety groups are mobilizing ahead of the 2028 cycle.
Related details
- The memo was first shared with Semafor.
- The memo states Public First Action currently has about $30 million available for its efforts.
