Build American AI Plans Data Center Ad Blitz Aimed at Midterm Voters

Build American AI plans to lobby voters in select states about the benefits of data centers, according to TechCrunch. The group says it is affiliated with Leading the Future, a pro-AI super PAC funded by Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, and OpenAI President Greg Brockman. The campaign’s stated aim is to persuade citizens to view local data centers more favorably.

Build American AI told Bloomberg, as cited by TechCrunch, that its ads will focus on Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The group said its budget is in the millions of dollars. TechCrunch notes that data center concerns have become a central theme in statewide elections in those states.

Leading the Future launched with over $50 million in funding, TechCrunch reports, citing Politico. The super PAC supports candidates who advocate for AI and has worked to oppose candidates who lobby against the technology, according to sources cited by Politico in the TechCrunch article. That makes the data center ad campaign part of a broader political effort around AI infrastructure and policy.

OpenAI publicly distanced itself from Leading the Future in a June blog post quoted by TechCrunch, saying it does not direct or have visibility into the group’s operations. OpenAI also said AI advocacy groups should be clear about their policy views, honest about whom they represent, and avoid tactics like astroturfing. The report also notes that other AI-linked political spending exists, including Anthropic’s support for Public First Action, a group backing AI regulation.

The campaign underscores how data centers have become a political issue as AI infrastructure expands. Voters in targeted states should watch who is paying for ads, what policy outcomes the ads support, and how local concerns are addressed. For policymakers, the story highlights the growing role of tech-backed super PACs in shaping the public debate over AI, energy use, and local development.