Washington, D.C. – February 12 — Anthropic today announced a $20 million commitment to support U.S. political candidates who advocate for responsible regulation of the artificial intelligence industry.
The funding will be directed to Public First Action, a political organization that supports state-level AI regulations and opposes federal efforts aimed at limiting states from passing their own AI laws. Among the candidates backed by the group is Republican Marsha Blackburn, currently running for governor of Tennessee, who previously opposed congressional efforts to block states from implementing AI legislation.
In a company statement, Anthropic emphasized its commitment to ethical technology development:
“The companies building AI have a responsibility to help ensure the technology serves the public good, not just their own interests.”
The AI sector is expected to play a significant financial role in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, as industry leaders increasingly engage in shaping the regulatory landscape. Several U.S. states have already passed AI-related laws, while others are actively considering regulatory bills.
Public First Action was launched late last year by two former members of Congress to counter Leading the Future, a political group that generally opposes strict AI regulations. Leading the Future is supported by prominent AI industry figures, including OpenAI President Greg Brockman and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen. Andreessen’s firm, A16Z, is an investor in OpenAI.
According to a spokesperson, Leading the Future has raised $125 million since its founding in August 2025.
