AI safety advocates push for stronger commitments after OpenAI signals retreat from midterm political spending

AI safety advocates are expressing skepticism about whether OpenAI's public distancing from political spending signals a genuine strategic shift or a temporary acknowledgment of poor optics. New York Assemblymember Alex Bores, a Democrat whose House campaign was targeted by an $8 million effort from Leading the Future and other groups, said he would not regard the signals as meaningful until they produced concrete changes: "I won't believe that they are actually changing their strategy, or their goals I should say, unless and until they do."

Bores, who launched a $30 million effort last month to unify Democrats on AI policy, drew a distinction between Brockman's individual withdrawal and any broader industry pullback. He said Brockman stepping away from Leading the Future did not preclude other major donors — specifically citing Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz — from continuing to pour money into the cycle. Andreessen, Horowitz, and their venture capital firm a16z, along with Brockman and his wife Anna, have contributed a combined $75 million to Leading the Future.

Guardrails Alliance political director Charlie Blaettler went further, arguing that Altman and Brockman's distancing from Leading the Future should prompt Democratic recipients to disavow the group's support. "If it's too toxic for Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, why are Democrats still taking their money?" he said. Several Democrats backed by Leading the Future — including Reps. Ritchie Torres, Joe Morelle, and Jared Moskowitz — declined to say whether they would disavow the spending. Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), who received a nearly $300,000 investment from Leading the Future, did not address whether she would disavow the group.