As the 2028 presidential race begins to take shape, artificial intelligence (A.I.) policy is emerging as a significant area of debate among potential candidates from both parties. With technology advancing rapidly and incidents involving autonomous systems drawing increasing attention, lawmakers and governors across the political spectrum are carving out their positions on how to balance innovation with safety and national security concerns.
Democratic contenders have generally advocated for stronger regulatory frameworks aimed at mitigating risks associated with A.I., although their approaches vary considerably. California Governor Gavin Newsom last week issued an executive order to accelerate the enactment of state laws that would regulate third-party safety evaluations of A.I. systems, signaling a commitment to oversight without calling for a complete development pause. Newsom is also convening expert panels to formulate recommendations on safety protocols, including the possible implementation of mandatory “kill switches” for systems that behave unpredictably. Critics, however, cite Newsom’s 2024 veto of a similar A.I. safety bill as a sign of prior hesitation.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has shifted from his earlier promotion of A.I. data centers toward advocating for stringent federal rules that mandate transparency and third-party oversight. Shapiro opposes halting A.I. development but urges caution and has called on former President Donald Trump to consider regulatory cooperation with China. Similarly, former Vice President Kamala Harris has proposed creating a federal oversight entity dedicated to A.I. safety and supports international treaties to collectively moderate the pace of innovation. Harris has expressed tentative support for industry engagement initiatives backed by Democratic donor Ron Conway, a move that has attracted scrutiny from regulatory advocates given Conway’s recent financial support for pro-A.I political action committees.
Other Democrats emphasize the broader economic and social risks posed by A.I. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has highlighted concerns about the heavy financial investments underpinning the industry, warning against government bailouts should the A.I. sector falter. She has sponsored legislation to block new data center projects until Congress addresses economic, environmental, and safety impacts. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear echoes calls to slow development while maintaining competitiveness with China, promoting legislation for governmental access to company data and backing the repeal of state tax incentives for data centers amid environmental concerns.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly plans to introduce a bill to establish a fund, supported by A.I. companies, intended to assist workers displaced by automation through job training and unemployment benefits. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, while initially supportive of data centers, suspended tax breaks this year due to infrastructure strains and has endorsed bipartisan legislation with some A.I. safeguards. Pritzker voiced particular concern about the hypothetical risks of recursive self-improvement in A.I., where systems autonomously enhance their own capabilities.
On the Republican side, responses to A.I. regulation have been more mixed but generally emphasize maintaining a competitive edge over China. Vice President JD Vance has rejected calls for government intervention, characterizing concerns about A.I. regulation as unfounded fearmongering and stressing the need to stay ahead of international rivals. Senator Ted Cruz supports targeted regulations to prevent A.I.’s use in nuclear or biological weaponry but opposes broad development pauses, warning that China’s unrestrained progress necessitates a robust U.S. response—even if that includes contested projects like autonomous weapons systems.
As the midterm elections focus primarily on other issues, the A.I. debate is expected to gain greater prominence as candidates formalize their platforms for 2028. With technology advancing swiftly and divided views on oversight and competition with China, policymakers are grappling with how best to harness A.I.’s potential while managing its risks.