The AI Industry's Bid to Buy the 2026 Elections

OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta are funneling tens of millions through a web of PACs and dark money groups to back candidates across multiple states. Here's where every publicly disclosed dollar is going.

Data through June 22, 2026 · Updated daily
$47.1M
Total independent expenditures tracked
71
Candidates targeted across 26 states
$30M+
Dark money from undisclosed donors
$18.9M
Most spent to target a single candidate
$16.8M
$21.6M
$8.6M
$16.8M supporting Republicans
$21.6M supporting Democrats
$8.6M opposing Democrats
$98K opposing Republicans (Cain TX-09)
$26.3M
$1.9M
$18.9M
$26.3M Leading the Future (OpenAI/a16z/Palantir/Perplexity)
$1.9M Meta
$18.9M Public First / Anthropic (pro-safety)
01

Where the money lands

Hover or click a state or candidate to trace the money
Supporting Republicans
Supporting Democrats
Opposing Democrats
Opposing Republicans
02

Follow the money

FEC filings Statements & media Relationship Support Oppose
Pro-AI / Big Tech

Leading the Future Network

The largest network — anchored by $50M from Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz of a16z, $25M from OpenAI president Greg Brockman, with additional backing from Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and Perplexity AI. Splits into Think Big (opposing/supporting Democrats) and American Mission (supporting Republicans), plus the dark-money arm Build American AI.
$26.3M in expenditures

Meta

Meta's spending spans Forge the Future (Texas state races), Making Our Tomorrow (Illinois), plus two dormant committees — American Tech Excellence ($45M) and META California ($20M).
$1.9M in expenditures
Pro-safety

Public First / Anthropic Network

Anthropic's $20M flows through Public First Action, a 501(c)(4) that also received $30M from undisclosed sources. The Super PAC arm funds Jobs & Democracy (Democrats) and Defending Our Values (Republicans).
$18.9M in expenditures
03

Recent filings

Jun 22
J&D adds $1.36M more supporting Bores (NY-12) across recent filings — JD-Bores now $10.8M; TB-Bores $8.1M. Combined Bores across networks $18.9M, 1 day before the Jun 23 primary
Jun 19
Bores final-week blitz: J&D adds another $1.48M (JD-Bores now $8.33M); TB adds $339K more opposing (TB-Bores now $8.15M). Combined Bores across networks $16.48M, 4 days before the Jun 23 primary. Plus TB pours $556K more into McAdams (UT-01 now $1.13M) and $50K more for Morelle (NY-25). AM activates Kurt Alme (MT-Sen, R) — $286K, new candidate (separate MT race from AM-Flint in MT-01). DV-Maloy: 6th $42K mailer round
Jun 17
Catch-up sweep (Jun 14-17): J&D adds $1.15M more for Bores (NY-12) — JD-Bores now $6.85M. TB adds $1.00M more opposing Bores — TB-Bores now $7.81M. Combined Bores across networks $14.66M, 6 days before the Jun 23 primary. Plus AM activates Letlow (LA-Sen, R) at $467K — new candidate, first LA spending. Plus TB top-ups for Torres (NY-15 +$60K), Morelle (NY-25 +$96K), Clarke (NY-09 +$36K). DV top-ups for Maloy (UT-03 +$42K, fifth mailer round) and Cowan (GA-11 +$50K)
Jun 13
J&D adds $1.33M more supporting Bores (NY-12) — $949K digital + $349K TV + $36K production via Bryson Gillette, dated Jun 11. J&D-Bores now $5.70M. Combined Bores across networks $12.50M, 10 days before the Jun 23 primary
Jun 13
Think Big activates Clarke (NY-09, Dem) — $254K via Lantern, dated Jun 11 ($222K digital + $19K SMS + $12K production). Previously announced Apr 8 (Politico), now actual FEC filings. Plus $131K more TV opposing Bores (NY-12) — TB-Bores now $6.80M; combined Bores across networks $11.17M, 10 days before primary
Jun 12
J&D adds $418K supporting Bores (NY-12) — $264K TV + $153K mailers via Bryson Gillette, dated Jun 10. J&D-Bores now $4.37M. Combined Bores spending across networks $10.93M, 11 days before the Jun 23 primary
Jun 11
American Mission adds Amanda McKinney (WA-04, Rep) — $564K media placement / production via Summit Ridge Media Group, dated Jun 9. New candidate, first WA spending in the tracker
Jun 11
Think Big adds two new candidates and escalates Bores. $566K for Ben McAdams (UT-01, former Dem Rep) and $358K for Joseph Morelle (NY-25, Dem incumbent), ahead of the Jun 23 / Jun 30 primaries, all via Lantern Production Consultants. Plus $252K more opposing Bores (NY-12) — TB-Bores now $6.57M; combined Bores spending across networks $10.5M, 12 days before primary. Plus $42K mailers for Torres (NY-15) — Torres crosses $1M
Jun 11
American Mission adds two new candidates. $330K for Felix Barry Moore (AL-Sen, GOP runoff Jul 14) — first AL spending in the tracker. Plus $221K for Kevin Hern (OK-Sen) — same race DV is already in for $808K, so combined Hern backing now $1.03M. Both filed Jun 10, dated Jun 9, via Summit Ridge Media Group ($321K media+text + $9.5K production for Moore; $119K media+production + $102K media+text for Hern)
Jun 10
J&D escalates Bores defense (NY-12). $458K more in a single filing — $213K TV + $209K digital + $36K production via Bryson Gillette, dated Jun 9. J&D-Bores now $3.95M. Combined Bores spending across networks now $10.3M, 13 days before the Jun 23 primary
Jun 5
Think Big adds $2.13M opposing Bores (NY-12) in a single Jun 3 filing — $1.12M + $640K + $244K in TV, $82K mail, $23K digital, $20K production. TB-Bores now $6.3M. J&D adds $460K supporting Bores — $159K digital + $154K TV (Jun 2) + $147K mailers (Jun 3). J&D-Bores now $3.49M. Combined Bores spending across networks now $9.8M, less than 3 weeks before the Jun 23 primary
Jun 1
DV-Maloy (UT-03) jumps from $42K → $796K with a $564K TV buy (SRCP Media), $180K digital (Advocacy Marketing), and $10K production — all booked May 26-29 ahead of her Jun 30 primary. Also TB adds $84K direct mail opposing Bores (NY-12) — TB-Bores now $4.06M; combined Bores spending ~$7.1M
May 31
Defending Our Values: new candidate Celeste Maloy (UT-03, R incumbent) — $42K mailer ahead of her Jun 30 primary. DV also adds $290K supporting Cowan (GA-11) — $198K mailers + $92K TV — Cowan now $440K ahead of the Jun 16 runoff. J&D adds $49K mailers for Bores (NY-12) — J&D-Bores now $3.03M
May 29
Think Big: $567K more for Torres (NY-15) — mostly radio + print over May 26-27. Torres now at $905K. Plus $268K digital opposing Bores (NY-12) — TB-Bores now $3.98M. J&D also adds $295K (TV + digital) for Bores — J&D-Bores now $2.98M. Combined Bores spending across networks now ~$7M
May 26
Texas primary runoff sweep for AI-backed candidates: Mealer wins TX-09 GOP 69-31% over Cain (DV $610K supporting + $98K opposing Cain). De La Cruz wins TX-35 GOP 58-42% over Lujan (DV $1.49M). Allred wins TX-33 Dem 55-45% over Johnson (J&D $400K). Sell wins TX-19 GOP 66-34% over Enriquez (AM $579K). Four-for-four — all AI-backed candidates advanced to November
May 25
American Mission: $260K supporting Jay Obernolte (CA-23) — new candidate, Republican incumbent already through the March top-two primary. AM-Flint (MT-01) also jumps $590K → $877K ahead of the June 2 primary. Plus DV adds $150K digital for John Cowan (GA-11) and JD adds $100K digital for Bores (NY-12)
May 22
Think Big: $338K supporting Ritchie Torres (NY-15) — new candidate, the third Dem named in LTF's May 8 endorsement (per Axios). $250K digital + $80K SMS + production. Primary Jun 23. Plus J&D adds $166K for Bores (NY-12) — J&D-Bores now $2.5M; TB-Bores now $3.7M
May 20
News: Leading the Future endorses 16 state legislators across 8 states (AZ, FL, GA, MI, MS, PA, TX, UT) — all Republicans, per The Hill. Support runs as 'paid awareness campaigns' via Build American AI 501(c)(4) — issue ads, not state-PAC filings, so no disclosed amounts. Public First similarly endorsed Marsha Blackburn (TN-Gov) with a six-figure issue ad
May 19
Think Big: $1.26M combined supporting two new Dem candidates — Rob Menendez Jr. (NJ-08, primary Jun 9) gets $662K and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19, primary Jun 2) gets $599K. Each gets the same $556K digital ad buy. Menendez was named in LTF's May 8 endorsement of 3 Dems (per Axios); Panetta is a new addition
May 23
J&D adds $115K digital buy supporting Bores (NY-12) — J&D-Bores now $2.59M. DV adds another $20K mailer opposing Cain (TX-09) — DV-Cain now $98K ahead of the May 26 GOP runoff
May 19
Clean sweep on May 19 primaries: every AI-PAC-backed candidate won. Barr (KY-Sen, 64-28% vs Cameron), Hoyle (OR-04, 78%), Brooks (PA-07, 42% in 4-way race), Kingston (GA-01, won outright), Gaines (GA-10, won outright). Combined ~$2.5M AI spending behind these 5 wins
May 18
Think Big: $82K direct mail opposing Bores (NY-12); American Mission: $54K mailers for Flint (MT-01). TB-Bores now $3.27M; AM-Flint now $555K
May 16
Jobs & Democracy: $263K supporting Bob Brooks (PA-07) — new candidate, Bethlehem firefighter, polling 26% (frontrunner) ahead of Democratic primary May 19. $250K digital buy + $13K in-kind production
May 15
Jobs & Democracy: $250K digital buy supporting Allred (TX-33) ahead of May 26 runoff. J&D total for Allred now $400K. Plus DV adds $18K mailer for Mealer (TX-09) — DV-Mealer now $590K. Plus J&D adds $105K mailer round for Bores (NY-12) — J&D-Bores now $2.3M
May 16
Shakeel Hashim / Transformer reports Public First will spend $800K supporting Kevin Hern in OK-Sen primary — confirms our FEC-tracked DV spending ($808K filed May 11-12). Hern is the strong favorite
May 15
Public First Action contributed $500K to Abundant Future (Garry Tan / Chris Larsen-backed Super PAC) which has spent $621K opposing Saikat Chakrabarti in CA-11. Reveals route of Public First's CA-11 involvement — not via its own PACs (Diego Areas Munhoz / Punchbowl News)
May 12
Pete Ricketts (NE-Sen) won Republican primary; DV had spent $251K supporting him. Faces independent Dan Osborn in November
May 11
Defending Our Values: $808K supporting Kevin Hern (OK-Sen) — new candidate. $800K TV buy + $8K production. Hern vacated OK-01 to run for Senate
May 11
American Mission: $133K supporting Barr (KY-Sen) — text messages, media placement & production. AM total for Barr now $676K
May 11
American Mission: $36K mailers for Flint (MT-01) — AM-Flint now $501K. Think Big: $17K SMS for Hoyle (OR-04) — TB-Hoyle now $292K
May 8
Think Big: $276K supporting Hoyle (OR-04) — new candidate, incumbent Democrat. Primary May 19
May 8
American Mission: $36K mailers supporting Flint (MT-01). AM total for Flint now $465K
May 6
Think Big: $217K cable advertising opposing Bores (NY-12). TB spending opposing Bores now $2.9M
May 6
American Mission: $363K supporting Barr (KY-Sen, Trump-endorsed) — two rounds of printing/postage
May 6
Defending Our Values: $40K mailers opposing Cain (TX-09) — targets Mealer's GOP runoff opponent (May 26). DV opposition to Cain now $40K
Apr 28
Jobs & Democracy: $262K supporting Bores (NY-12) — TV buy ($147K) and digital ($115K). J&D spending on Bores now $1.9M
Apr 23
American Mission: $429K supporting Flint (MT-01) — first FEC filing for Flint, primary Jun 2
May 4
Think Big: $220K opposing Bores (NY-12) — cable ads ($180K) and SMS ($40K). TB spending opposing Bores now $2.6M
May 4
Jobs & Democracy: $70K digital ad buy supporting Poindexter (OH-07). J&D spending on Poindexter now $570K
Apr 29
American Mission: $262K supporting Gaines (GA-10) — new candidate, primary May 19. Trump-endorsed
Apr 30
Jobs & Democracy: $105K mailers supporting Bores (NY-12). J&D spending on Bores now $1.7M
Apr 30
Defending Our Values: $354K new spending supporting Mealer (TX-09) — digital ads ($326K), mailers ($20K), production ($8K). DV total for Mealer now $572K
Apr 22
Jobs & Democracy: $262K supporting Bores (NY-12) — TV buy ($147K) and digital ($115K). First of two near-identical rounds; J&D-Bores then $1.6M
Apr 23
Jobs & Democracy: $424K TV ad buy supporting Poindexter (OH-07) — new candidate, new state
Apr 22
American Mission: $960K supporting Kingston (GA-01) — first FEC filing for Kingston
Apr 21
Jobs & Democracy: $303K more for Bores (NY-12), J&D spending on Bores now $1.3M
Apr 19
Jobs & Democracy: $249K new spending supporting Bores (NY-12) — TV ad buy ($163K) and digital ads ($87K). PF network total now $994K
Apr 16
Q1 filings: J&D PAC funded $3.4M from Public First entities; DV PAC funded $2.15M by Public First Action. Jan Leike (Anthropic) gives $100K to each PAC. Other AI employees: Peter Lofgren (Anthropic) $5K, Matthew Fisher (Adobe) $1K
Apr 15
LTF files Q1 2026 report: a16z doubles down with second $25M (total $50M), LTF transfers $89K each to Think Big and American Mission. $95M+ total raised, $51M cash on hand.
Apr 11
Think Big: new FEC filings — $82K direct mail opposing Bores, $41K Jackson SMS, $27K Bean SMS
Apr 10
Jobs & Democracy: $261K new spending supporting Bores (NY-12) — TV buy, digital ads. J&D total for Bores now $745K
Apr 8
LTF backs 5 House Dems: Gottheimer (NJ-05), Liccardo (CA-16), Clarke (NY-09), Subramanyam (VA-10), Gomez (CA-34) — Politico
Apr 7
LTF announces $1.5M for Kingston (GA-01), Flint (MT-01), McGowan (IA-04) — Fox News
Apr 2
American Mission: $250K media placement supporting Fuller (GA-14), total now $687K
Mar 27
Think Big: $80K cable advertising opposing Bores (NY-12), total now $2.4M
Mar 20
American Mission files $437K supporting Fuller (GA-14) — new candidate, new state
Mar 16
Making Our Tomorrow adds $66K in digital ads & voter contact across 4 Illinois races
Mar 15
Think Big: $341K in digital & print ads opposing Bores (NY-12)
Mar 12
Think Big: $50K texting opposing Bores (NY-12)
Mar 11
American Mission: Sell (TX-19) support hits $579K with $278K media placement
Mar 11
Think Big: $278K digital media supporting Jackson Jr. (IL-02)
Mar 11
Making Our Tomorrow adds $60K in mailers across 4 Illinois races
Mar 11
LTF pledges $500K supporting Clay Fuller (GA-14) in special election runoff (AJC)
Mar 10
Making Our Tomorrow adds $47K in mailers and voter contact across 4 Illinois races
Mar 9
American Mission files $301K supporting Sell (TX-19) — new candidate
Mar 8
American Mission files $69K supporting Yarbrough (TX-32) — new candidate
Mar 6
Making Our Tomorrow adds $47K in digital ads across 4 Illinois races
Mar 7
J&D PAC retracts $1M in Jackson Jr. (IL-02) opposition spending — all line items amended to $0
Mar 5
Making Our Tomorrow adds $66K across 4 Illinois races
Mar 5
American Mission: Gober (TX-10) support hits $748K
Mar 5
J&D PAC: Bores (NY-12) support hits $484K
Feb 25
J&D PAC files $150K supporting Allred (TX-33)
Feb 23
Meta gives $1.37M to Forge the Future Project (Texas)
Feb 15
Defending Our Values files $251K TV buy supporting Ricketts (NE-Sen)
04

Spending over time

Leading the Future Meta Public First / Anthropic

How AI political spending works

Independent expenditures are political spending made to support or oppose a candidate without coordinating with the campaign. These groups spend money on ads, mailers, and other efforts — and under current law, there's no limit on the amounts.

A Super PAC can raise and spend unlimited money but must disclose donors. A 501(c)(4) "social welfare" nonprofit can also spend on elections but is not required to disclose funders. Several networks here use both: disclosed money flows into a Super PAC, while a 501(c)(4) acts as a pass-through, hiding the identity of some funders.

Dark money refers to political spending where the original funding source is hidden, typically through 501(c)(4) nonprofits. The clearest examples here are Public First ($30M from undisclosed sources) and Build American AI (entirely hidden donors).

This tracker is built from public filings with the FEC, the Texas Ethics Commission, and the Illinois State Board of Elections. 501(c)(4) spending may not appear for months, some state expenditures are reported only in bulk filings, and informal coordination only surfaces through investigative journalism. What appears here is a floor, not a ceiling.

Want to push back on AI money in politics? See the No Big AI Money Pledge
Data sources. Federal data from FEC API and e-filings. Texas data from TEC. Illinois data from IL SBE (Committee 41081). Amounts reflect most recent filings as of date shown. Reporting sources. Entity connections and fundraising totals not in public filings drawn from NYT, POLITICO, Axios, and other outlets. Methodology. Tracks independent expenditure committees and state PACs with financial ties to major AI companies. "Support" and "Oppose" reflect committees' own filings. Purple dotted lines indicate organizational relationships, not direct financial flows.
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