Politicians across the spectrum commit to AI regulation and data center oversight

More than 15 candidates for office across the United States have signed the AI Pact, a set of five commitments aimed at regulating both data centers and artificial intelligence. The pact, developed by the Political Integrity Project, includes promises such as advocating for mandatory safety reviews for AI models, supporting policies that would create an AI dividend for workers, and ensuring that consumers and companies can sue over harms caused by AI models. Funding for the AI Pact is provided by a progressive political action committee, with no direct involvement from AI safety groups or tech companies. The current signers of the pact, except for Dan Osborn, a Nebraska Senate candidate running as an independent, are all Democrats. However, the pact is open to Republican candidates as well. Some signers have built their campaigns around opposition to data centers and Big Tech, such as Representative Justin Pearson, a Tennessee Democrat who has opposed pollution from SpaceX’s data centers, and Will Lawrence, a left candidate who won a competitive primary in Michigan in a district with significant data center opposition. The pact does not call for an explicit moratorium on data centers but instead supports policies that would ban tax breaks, backroom deals, and excessive energy usage for data centers. This measured language is intentional, according to Daniel Lobo-Lewis, one of the founders of the pact, and is meant to serve as a 'floor' for candidates, especially those with strong ties to labor. Several labor unions have recently reaffirmed their support for data center construction. Alexander McCoy, a progressive strategist, notes that candidates in swing seats are focused on affordability, job creation, and lowering costs. He highlights the dilemma of whether it is worth creating some construction jobs now at the potential cost of destroying opportunities for other workers in the district. Dan Osborn, a Navy veteran and labor leader, acknowledges that data centers can provide infrastructure and jobs but emphasizes the need for Congress to regulate data centers, stating that 'calling a time-out right now doesn't seem like a horrible thing.' Osborn's position is increasingly common across the political spectrum. Governors like Pennsylvania Democrat Josh Shapiro and Texas Republican Greg Abbott have taken steps to assure voters that they are regulating data center development. Abbott, who recently stated that data centers have 'dug their own grave' in his state, initiated a temporary moratorium on their construction this month. Other promises in the AI Pact align with recent political positions from leaders of both parties. The White House is developing a voluntary safety review for AI models, while Trump has met with AI executives on the idea of a worker dividend for AI profits, an idea reportedly pitched to him by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The Trump administration has also encouraged AI companies, governors, and utilities to sign on to a voluntary pledge to protect ratepayers from electricity increases due to data centers. Lobo-Lewis dismisses the White House’s actions on AI as just lip service, stating that he cannot imagine the Trump administration would actually want to implement mandatory safety reviews for models or nationwide tax breaks for data center construction. Gina Hinojosa, Abbott’s opponent in the Texas gubernatorial race and a signer of the pact, has criticized Abbott’s moratorium, claiming he is not doing enough to ensure 'that the people will be protected.' Hinojosa argues that data centers support an AI industry with no rules, which threatens jobs, livelihood, health, safety, and well-being. The pact comes as the political class debates whether voters’ concerns about data centers are connected to their worries about AI. Trump has repeatedly expressed support for data center construction, stating that he would 'absolutely want it' if given the opportunity. In March, Senator Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, became one of the first politicians to link AI safety measures to data centers, proposing a national moratorium until Congress passes legislation to safeguard the public from the dangers of artificial intelligence. A small but growing number of politicians have since followed suit, increasingly tying data center development to larger concerns about AI. Some polling suggests that environmental worries about data centers still far outrank AI concerns among the public, raising questions about how closely data center opposition is connected to worries about AI. For Osborn, the idea that voters are not connecting the dots between data centers and the negatives of Big Tech—especially privacy violations and the proliferation of Flock cameras—is something being incubated in Washington, DC. He remarked, 'They like to pretend that we're all stupid,' with a sly laugh.