AI Super PAC Network Loses Most Midterm Races
Leading the Future, backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's Greg Brockman, saw most of its competitive candidates lose their races.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Most of the competitive candidates backed by Leading the Future, a super PAC network funded by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, lost their midterm races. The network had launched in August with over $100 million behind it.
Why it matters
The results test whether AI industry money can shape congressional outcomes, at a time when 56 percent of voters told exit pollsters that AI and data centers were crucial or a major factor in their election decisions. The losses come as the network had already moved to pull back some funding, including Brockman's withdrawn $25 million donation.
American Mission, a Leading the Future network super PAC, gave over $2 million to Darline Graham and over $500,000 each to Laurie Buckhout and Aaron Flint, all of whom lost. Guardrails Alliance spent over $1 million against Rep. Jimmy Gomez and more than $1 million opposing Aaron Flint.
The players
Leading the Future
A pro-AI super PAC network that spent heavily in the 2026 midterm elections, backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman.
Greg Brockman
President of OpenAI and a backer of Leading the Future, who withdrew a $25 million donation to the network in September.
Andreessen Horowitz
A venture capital firm and a financial backer of Leading the Future's super PAC network.
Guardrails Alliance
An advocacy group that spent over $1 million against Rep. Jimmy Gomez and more than $1 million opposing Aaron Flint.
The details
Leading the Future saved most of its contributions for candidates already expected to win, and it announced on September 16 a $2 million investment and ad campaign supporting Republican Senate candidates. The competitive races it spent in, including those for Graham, Buckhout and Flint, ended in losses.
Timeline
August 2026: Leading the Future launched with over $100 million behind it.
September 2026: Brockman backed out of a $25 million donation to the super PAC network.
September 16, 2026: Leading the Future announced a $2 million Senate ad campaign investment.
November 5, 2026: WIRED reported the network's midterm losses.
The Tech Race
The 2026 exit polling, which found 56 percent of voters calling AI and data centers crucial or a major election factor, signals that AI policy has become a live electoral issue. The results put pressure on AI industry groups seeking to influence Congress through super PAC spending.
The results show that voters are paying attention to AI and data centers in their choices at the ballot box. Candidates in future races may face closer scrutiny over their positions on AI policy and the industry money backing them.
The takeaway
Industry money does not guarantee electoral success when voters are focused on a policy issue. Readers following AI policy should watch how candidates respond to the 56 percent of voters who said AI and data centers matter to their vote.
Further reading
For broader context on how AI policy is reshaping politics, see Artificial Intelligence coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dailycallernewsfoundation.
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