A new poll indicates that most voters in Ohio and Iowa support a range of artificial intelligence (AI) safety measures, even when respondents were told some measures could reduce U.S. competitiveness.
The survey was conducted by Inquire, a polling firm led by Republican pollster Rob Schmidt. About 500 general election voters in Ohio and Iowa were interviewed earlier this month.
Which proposals were supported?
Ten regulatory proposals tested in the poll — including stronger parental controls, bans on chatbots for minors, and government safety testing — received more than 70% support in each state.
Overall, respondents preferred what the poll described as “reasonable” AI safety measures, accepting potential competitive costs in some scenarios.
Political trust and the presidential stance
Voters were split over whether Republicans or Democrats can be trusted more on AI policy; the poll did not show a clear advantage for either party on that question.
The findings contrast with President Donald Trump’s stated preference for largely unfettered AI. White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Semafor: “American leadership in super intelligence is essential for our national security, economic prosperity, and the quality of life of the American people. President Trump is committed to ensuring America continues to lead the world in super intelligence while protecting American consumers.”
Why this matters
Ohio and Iowa are states Republicans are aiming to hold in the Senate, so voter sentiment on AI could influence campaign messaging and strategy. The broad support for AI safety measures in these states suggests regulation could be a politically resonant issue across party lines among the sampled voters.
The published summary of the poll did not include further methodological details such as sampling procedures or margin of error.
