Debates over artificial intelligence are creating new alliances across party lines and opening divisions inside parties as candidates and lawmakers seek messages that will resonate with voters ahead of the midterm elections. The politics of AI is affecting local policy fights, national rhetoric, and legislative strategy.
1) Centrist Democrats versus progressives on data centers in New York
New York became the first state to impose a moratorium on data centers, a move driven by a collaboration between Governor Kathy Hochul and progressive state Senator Kristen Gonzalez. The two, however, represent different regulatory instincts on AI and data infrastructure.
Gonzalez previously pushed for a three-year moratorium and is working to extend the one-year pause in Hochul’s executive order. She is leading a statewide tour to press Hochul to sign her Responsible Data Center Development Act, and her outreach includes not only Democratic strongholds but also red and purple areas in upstate New York and the Hudson Valley.
How Hochul and Gonzalez ultimately align will test how much progressive and centrist Democrats can coalesce around an issue that mobilizes voters across the political spectrum. Environmental groups such as Sustainable Finger Lakes have urged Hochul to sign Gonzalez’s bill, arguing small rural towns should not be left vulnerable to extractive industries.
For a brief period, Hochul’s rhetoric overlapped with that of former President Donald Trump, until Hochul expanded the approach with her moratorium executive order. After that order, a White House official told Axios that if Hochul truly wanted to lower costs she should adopt the Trump administration’s energy agenda, adding criticism that Democrats’ actions could stifle innovation and weaken U.S. competitiveness with China in the AI race.
2) Trump-aligned figures versus Tea Party–linked activists on data center protests
Activists tied to the Tea Party movement have been protesting data centers and urging Republicans to recognize the issue. Humans First, which describes itself as a grassroots conservative organization advocating an "America First AI policy," has been active on the matter; its chair, Amy Kremer, is a longtime Tea Party figure.
Humans First’s involvement has been controversial within conservative circles. Some conservative outlets have disavowed the group and accused it of being an astroturf organization aligned with the left. Chris Barron, a Humans First spokesperson and a Trump surrogate in 2016, pushed back on criticism that liberals showed up at recent Humans First–organized protests, noting that converting voters has long been part of MAGA’s strategy. Barron said he was confident the president would understand the party base’s priorities.
But sources familiar with the administration told Axios there is no alignment between the White House and Humans First. According to one such source, no one in that group has access, visibility, or influence in the White House.
3) Libertarians and progressives find common cause on surveillance and privacy
Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has begun planning for a possible Democratic takeover of the House and is looking for overlap with libertarian members on the right. Surveillance has historically been an area of agreement between those factions, and AI has broadened the issue’s scope.
Casar is emphasizing privacy protections and closing loopholes in surveillance laws that allow brokers to collect Americans’ data through corporate channels. In states such as Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Republican lawmakers are also focusing on AI-powered surveillance and joining Democrats on legislation aimed at creating safeguards against government and industry misuse of personal data.
Bottom line
Don’t expect tidy Republican-versus-Democratic platforms on AI before the elections. The issue is producing cross-party coalitions and intra-party splits that will shape regulatory debates and campaign messaging in the months ahead.
