AICoin AI: Anthropic’s $20M Political Bet on State-Level AI Sovereignty
Anthropic has committed $20 million to influence midterm elections through Public First Action, a new political group advocating for state sovereignty in AI legislation. The move positions Anthropic against both OpenAI's political arm and the TRUMP administration, which seeks federal dominance in AI policy. "The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests," Anthropic stated.
The funding targets candidates like Tennessee gubernatorial hopeful Marsha Blackburn, who has resisted federal preemption of state AI laws. Public First Action faces formidable opposition from Leading the Future, an OpenAI-backed group that has raised $125 million since August 2025. The conflict intensified after President Trump's December executive order directing federal agencies to create a national AI framework that could override state regulations.
