AI-related groups back Buckhout, Foushee in competitive North Carolina primaries :: WRAL.com
AI-related groups back Buckhout, Foushee in competitive North Carolina primaries :: WRAL.com
https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/ai-pacs-2m-nc-2026-primaries-foushee-buckhout-feb-27/
Publish Date: 2026-02-27 17:12:00
Source Domain: www.wral.com
- Political action committees (PACs) linked to the artificial intelligence (AI) industry have spent at least $2 million to influence two key races in North Carolina’s 2026 primary elections, showing the growing political impact of the AI sector.
- AI-backed PACs supporting Democratic U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee and Republican candidate Laurie Buckhout have been making late entries into the ad blitz, particularly in the 4th and 1st Congressional districts.
- The Jobs and Democracy PAC, affiliated with a larger group funded by Anthropic, has expended $1.6 million supporting Foushee in her Democratic primary race against Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam.
- President Donald Trump’s order to phase out Anthropic technology in federal agencies has added to the controversy over AI’s use, especially as Anthropic resisted unrestricted military use of its AI products.
- Foushee and Allam present contrasting views on AI regulation and corporate influence; Allam criticizes Foushee for being too close to corporate interests, while Foushee highlights her backing from unions and North Carolina residents.
- Another PAC, Leading the Future, partially funded by OpenAI’s Greg Brockman, is supporting Buckhout in the Republican primary and has attracted opposition from within her own party.
- The article underscores the escalating influence of AI on local elections and the broader debate over its regulation, economic impact, and ethical implications, with tensions high as AI technologies continue to reshape various sectors of the U.S. economy.
