AI politics: Midterm candidates face new voter concerns

Artificial intelligence has moved from a background technology to a central campaign issue in the final stretch of the 2026 midterm elections. Candidates are adjusting their rhetoric as voter sentiment shifts away from traditional enthusiasm for new tech.

Chris Borick, a political science professor at Lehigh University, said AI has become a major issue in several races over the last few months. He noted that the political stance on AI has turned neutral or even negative in both red and blue states. "We like tech traditionally as part of our political economy. That’s really changed in the last year, where you see a much more neutral and sometimes negative political position on AI," Borick said.

Shobita Parthasarathy, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan, identified distinct differences in how the two major parties approach the topic. She said Republicans have maintained a close relationship with AI companies over the past year. As a result, she argued, Republican candidates are focusing on the cost of AI while avoiding broader discussions. "They are trying to limit the discussion. They may or they may be less likely to talk about a moratorium," Parthasarathy said.

A recent poll of voters in Iowa and Ohio, published online by SEMAFOR, found that the vast majority of respondents want greater regulation of artificial intelligence. This data suggests that the shift in candidate messaging is driven by a desire to align with growing public concerns about AI's impact on society, the economy, and local communities.

Borick pointed to local elections as a key area where AI is driving unexpected political coalitions. He said that conservatives, liberals, Republicans, and Democrats are often aligned in opposition to data centers or in expressing concerns about AI. "And when that happens, you have the potential for some political realignments that we might be experiencing," he said.

The convergence of party lines on AI at the local level indicates that the issue is influencing voter behavior beyond standard partisan divisions. Both parties are now navigating these concerns as they finalize their pitches to voters in this election cycle.