The pro-artificial intelligence network Leading the Future is expanding its political influence beyond federal races, announcing its first endorsements in state legislative contests on Thursday. The group, which has spent millions on congressional primaries this year, is now targeting downballot races to shape AI policy at the local level.
Leading the Future, a coalition of several pro-AI super PACs, is backing 16 Republican incumbents and candidates across eight states. The slate includes Arizona state Rep. Justin Wilmeth; Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and state Reps. Sam Garrison and Fiona McFarland; Georgia state Sens. John Albers and Shawn Still; Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall and state Reps. Parker Fairbairn, Rylee Linting, and Bill G. Schuette; Mississippi state Rep. Jill Ford and state Sen. Bart Williams; Pennsylvania state Rep. Alec Ryncavage and state Sens. Tracy Pennycuick and Greg Rothman; Texas state Rep. Trent Ashby, who is running for state Senate, and candidate Brett Ligon; and Utah state Sen. Daniel McCay.
The network plans to announce its first endorsements for Democratic state lawmakers in the coming weeks. Support for its chosen candidates may include “paid awareness campaigns to tout each member’s positive contribution to the discussion around AI innovation and how that innovation will benefit the community and their districts,” according to group leadership.
Zac Moffatt, a co-strategist for Leading the Future, said in a statement: “At Leading the Future, we’re backing state legislators who recognize the opportunity to lead the world in AI innovation that unlocks economic opportunity and keeps families safe. States play a critical role in getting this right, and we’re proud to champion legislators who are ready to meet that moment. This reflects our commitment to building a coalition prepared to lead at every level of government now and in the future.”
Backed by donors including venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife Anna Brockman, Leading the Future has amassed a war chest of $100 million across its affiliates ahead of November, with total fundraising exceeding $140 million. The network advocates for a federal framework on AI regulation rather than a patchwork of state laws.
The group’s affiliates have already waded into congressional primaries, spending to oppose Democratic candidate Alex Bores in New York and supporting former Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) and Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) in their primaries. Jackson lost his primary in March. The network also backed Republicans including Rep. Clay Fuller (R-Ga.) and Texas candidates Tom Sell and Jace Yarbrough. It is also supporting Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) in his Florida gubernatorial bid.
Leading the Future’s move into state legislative races reflects a broader trend of outside interest groups targeting downballot contests, which are cheaper to influence and have direct impact on policy. The network is not alone: Public First Action, a nonprofit linked to AI firm Anthropic, is also flexing its influence through super PACs, supporting candidates like Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in her gubernatorial run. The group advocates for stronger AI safeguards.
Anthropic’s relationship with the Trump administration has been strained, though CEO Dario Amodei recently met with the White House, a session described as “both productive and constructive.” As AI policy debates intensify, these endorsements signal that tech-backed groups are increasingly investing in state-level politics to shape the regulatory landscape.
