Democrats push for slower AI development and tighter regulation ahead of 2028 presidential race
Former President Barack Obama issued a public statement calling for government regulation of artificial intelligence, saying choices about AI's pace of development should not be left to technology companies alone. His remarks followed a viral resignation post by former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who warned the technology could destroy humanity if developed without checks. Several prominent Democratic governors, senators, and potential 2028 presidential candidates subsequently amplified calls for AI oversight on social media and at campaign events.
Two sources · Thin corroboration
The surge in Democratic attention to AI regulation followed two converging events: Coxon's viral resignation statement warning of existential risk, and a subsequent request by leaders of major AI companies — including Anthropic and OpenAI — for the federal government to help slow frontier AI development and allow third-party monitors into their labs. Obama, described by the Washington Post as Democrats' most influential figure, said at a private fundraiser that a presidential candidate should have "a very clear plan" on AI and make it "one of my central agendas." In a separate public statement on X, Obama wrote that AI is "moving at lightning speed" and that any "potential catastrophe will depend on the choices that we make right now."
Mentions of AI among high-profile likely 2028 candidates from both parties were six times higher last week compared with a month earlier, according to a Washington Post analysis of social media posts, podcasts, and public statements. Democratic governors pointed to existing state legislation: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker cited his state's AI law, California Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted a new law imposing safety requirements on companion chatbots used by children, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced a planned address on AI following his August executive order removing data centers from a fast-track permitting process.
At the federal level, Sen. Ruben Gallego wrote that "waiting to act isn't an option" on national security grounds, while Sen. Jon Ossoff called for federal inspectors to enter frontier AI labs and for Congress to legislate. Sen. Bernie Sanders put forward legislation that would nationalize a portion of the AI industry, ban development of artificial superintelligence with lengthy prison sentences for violators, and impose a moratorium on new data center construction. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez co-sponsored the data center moratorium bill. Most other potential presidential candidates have not embraced Sanders's proposals.