Big Tech's Political Playbook: The Group Spending Millions to Shape AI Laws

A political group called Leading the Future (LTF) is spending millions of dollars to influence elections across the United States. The group wants to help elect lawmakers who support the tech industry's vision for artificial intelligence, or AI. LTF is run by two experienced political strategists — Josh Vlasto and Zac Moffatt — one Democrat and one Republican. Together, they are trying to shape how the government treats AI for years to come.

LTF has spent money in more than 30 primary races so far — 19 Republican and 11 Democratic. Their biggest battle was in New York City's 12th Congressional District, where they spent over $8 million to defeat a candidate named Alex Bores. Bores supported stronger rules for AI, which LTF opposed. He lost the race, but the huge amount of money LTF spent drew a lot of attention and criticism.

Some people in both politics and the tech world were troubled by LTF's tactics. Companies like OpenAI distanced themselves from the group after its aggressive campaign against Bores. Word also spread among lawmakers in Washington that supporting strong AI regulation could come at a political cost. One political strategist said that pro-AI forces would 'try to destroy you' if you pushed for tougher AI rules.

Vlasto and Moffatt say they are actually fighting against a larger opponent. They claim they are up against a wide network of nonprofits, lobbyists, and tech leaders who want the government to heavily regulate AI. LTF calls this group 'doomers.' Many of these opponents are connected to a movement called 'AI safety,' which argues that AI needs strict government oversight to prevent serious harms.

Josh Vlasto, 44, has a long history in tough political environments. He got his start working for Senator Chuck Schumer and later became chief of staff for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Before joining LTF, Vlasto worked for a pro-cryptocurrency political group called Fairshake, which became known for its aggressive style. That experience helped shape how LTF operates today.

Zac Moffatt, 46, started his career working on Michael Bloomberg's 2001 New York City mayoral campaign. He later founded a Republican digital strategy company called Targeted Victory in 2009. He worked on Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign and earned a reputation as a skilled and committed professional. A major marketing company called Stagwell eventually took a controlling interest in Targeted Victory, and Moffatt became one of its top leaders.

LTF's goal is bigger than just winning a few races. The group wants to change the overall politics of AI and push out those who oppose the tech industry's agenda. They support candidates who are generally pro-business and open to letting AI grow with fewer restrictions. Candidates who want LTF's support must fill out a questionnaire asking whether they want America to lead in AI and whether they'll work thoughtfully on managing its risks.

Critics say LTF is simply buying influence in Congress. Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of an anti-LTF group called Guardrails Alliance, says LTF is 'buying congressional reps' by spending in non-competitive races where their money goes further. LTF counters that they are building relationships with future lawmakers who will remember their support. The group hopes these lawmakers will side with the tech industry when major AI decisions come up in Congress.

Public trust in Big Tech is near an all-time low, with only one in five Americans saying they have a lot of confidence in large technology companies, according to Gallup surveys. That makes Vlasto and Moffatt's job even harder, since they must advance the tech industry's agenda while the industry itself is viewed with suspicion by many Americans. AI is expected to be a major issue in the 2026 and 2028 elections, making LTF's work more important — and more controversial — than ever.