A new political advocacy group backed by some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent AI investors is preparing to spend millions of dollars on advertising in three battleground states, aiming to sway voters on the contentious issue of data center construction. The group, called Build American AI, told Bloomberg it will target Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin, where data center development has emerged as a central theme in statewide elections.
Build American AI says it is affiliated with Leading the Future (LTF), a super PAC that launched with more than $50 million in funding. The PAC counts venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz among its major backers, along with OpenAI President Greg Brockman and his wife Anna. Politico reports that LTF has primarily used its war chest to donate directly to political candidates who advocate for AI-friendly policies, while also working to oppose candidates who lobby against the technology.
OpenAI’s public distancing from LTF’s tactics
The new ad campaign arrives months after OpenAI took the unusual step of publicly distancing itself from LTF. In a June blog post, the company acknowledged the super PAC’s existence while drawing a clear line between itself and the group’s activities.
“There have been questions around Leading the Future (LTF), which has received support from our President and co-founder, Greg Brockman, and his wife Anna,” OpenAI wrote. “OpenAI does not direct the activities of LTF, or have visibility into their operations.”
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The company went further, condemning specific tactics it said it does not endorse. “Groups that are advocating on AI should be clear about their policy views, be honest about whom they represent, and not use tactics like astroturfing that obscure the real choices facing policymakers and the public,” the statement read. Astroturfing refers to the practice of making a paid, organized campaign appear as spontaneous grassroots support.
Data centers become a midterm flashpoint
The focus on Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin reflects a broader shift in how data centers are being discussed in political races. What was once a niche infrastructure issue has become a mainstream electoral concern as communities grapple with the trade-offs of hosting massive computing facilities.
Local debates have intensified over land use, water consumption, electricity demands, and the gap between construction jobs and the relatively small number of permanent positions these facilities create. In several states, utility rate increases tied to data center power demands have become a rallying point for both local residents and state-level candidates.
Build American AI’s advertising push is designed to counter that skepticism by emphasizing the economic benefits of data center development, including construction employment, tax revenue, and the broader AI industry growth that these facilities enable.
Silicon Valley’s expanding political footprint
LTF is not the only super PAC pushing an AI agenda with deep Silicon Valley connections. Anthropic, for instance, is a known supporter of Public First Action, a group that backs AI regulation. The emergence of competing political action committees with different policy priorities reflects the growing stakes of AI governance debates.
The scale of Andreessen Horowitz’s political spending, however, stands apart. The New York Times recently characterized Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz as “spending on politics like no other,” noting that their venture firm has become the largest donor to the midterm elections so far. By the outlet’s calculations, the firm has spread over $115 million in disclosed federal contributions, surpassing high-profile donors like Elon Musk and George Soros.
Beyond AI causes, the firm has been a major backer of pro-crypto political efforts, particularly through the crypto super PAC Fairshake. This dual-track approach — supporting both AI-friendly and crypto-friendly candidates — positions Andreessen Horowitz as one of the most influential political spenders in the technology sector this election cycle.
For voters in Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin, the incoming ads will likely frame data centers not as a burden but as an opportunity. Whether that message resonates in communities that have raised legitimate concerns about resource consumption remains an open question — one that will be answered at the ballot box this November.
