Super PACs tied to AI labs and investors have poured close to $1 million into incumbent Republican Mike Rounds’s South Dakota Senate race, according to FEC filings. The spending reflects a broader effort by AI firms to influence the national debate over AI regulation and data center policies.
Rounds has received around $600,000 in outside spending, with the majority coming from the super PAC Defend American Jobs, which is funded by Andreessen Horowitz. Additionally, he has received roughly $215,000 directly from AI lab employees and affiliated super PACs, including Anthropic, Google, and Microsoft.
With fewer than 50 days until the midterms, recent polls show Rounds ahead of independent candidate Brian Beng. This spending highlights how AI labs are using their financial resources to shape key legislative issues, particularly AI regulation, which is expected to be a top priority in the next Congress.
"Rounds has been viewed by AI executives as a top supporter of the industry," said a congressional aide. This support could be crucial as lawmakers prepare to address AI regulation amid growing public concerns about safety and data center impacts.
The investment also reflects the growing focus of AI labs on maintaining legislative allies, which have been scarce on Capitol Hill as lawmakers draft numerous bills in response to public anxiety over AI safety. Rounds’ office consulted with the Senate ethics committee about his connection to Meta lobbyist Robert Skjonsberg, which was deemed non-conflicting.
Concerns about data centers have been bipartisan, with a recent Gallup poll showing seven out of 10 Americans oppose their development due to their high water and energy demands. Rounds’ stance on data centers remains complex, as he has both endorsed restrictions and had ties to Meta’s lobbying efforts.
Source: wired
