TL;DR

Anthropic is spending $20m to support US political candidates who back AI regulation, directly opposing OpenAI’s advocacy for lighter oversight. The donation goes to Public First Action, a group defending state-level AI laws against federal pre-emption efforts.

Regulation Battle Lines

The donation puts Anthropic firmly on the pro-regulation side of an increasingly polarised debate within the AI industry. Public First Action opposes federal efforts to quash state AI regulations, including a December executive order issued by Donald Trump.

Among the candidates backed by the group is Republican Marsha Blackburn, running for governor in Tennessee, who opposed a congressional effort to bar states from passing AI laws.

“The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests,” Anthropic said in a statement.

Industry Split

The move highlights a growing divide among AI companies over regulation. On the opposing side, Leading the Future — backed by OpenAI’s president Greg Brockman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen — has raised $125m since its founding in August 2025. The group generally opposes strict AI regulations and supports federal pre-emption of state laws.

The AI industry is set to play a major financial role in the US midterm elections this year, as several states have passed or are considering bills to regulate the technology.

Looking Forward

For UK observers, the US regulatory battle has indirect implications. How America balances federal and state-level AI oversight will likely influence international regulatory frameworks and trade agreements. Anthropic’s willingness to spend against the interests of its own industry’s deregulation lobby could also shape how safety-focused companies are perceived by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic.