Key facts
- Candidates for governor are increasingly addressing AI regulation.
- A POLITICO Poll indicates a majority of voters see AI as an existential threat.
- The National Governors Association will release an AI policy roadmap for governors in November.
- Oregon's Democratic Governor Tina Kotek's campaign criticizes federal inaction on AI safeguards.
- David Crowley, Democratic nominee in Wisconsin, stated AI safety is an issue Wisconsin can address.
Candidates for governor are increasingly engaging with the issue of artificial intelligence regulation, spurred by growing public concern and a perceived lack of federal action. A recent POLITICO Poll revealed that a majority of voters now consider AI an existential threat, with a significant portion advocating for a pause in advanced AI model development.
Alyssa Cass, a Democratic strategist, noted that AI is becoming a more prominent topic in public discourse, moving beyond initial concerns about data centers. "They're talking about it," she said. "That's a meaningful difference."
The National Governors Association (NGA) is preparing to release a policy roadmap in November aimed at guiding governors on how states can address AI's impact. Sophia Yager, the NGA's policy director for workforce development and economic policy, highlighted the importance of this resource given that 39 gubernatorial elections are scheduled for November, with at least 21 new governors expected to be sworn in in January.
Democrats have been particularly vocal in criticizing the federal government's approach. Federico Araujo, a spokesperson for Oregon's Democratic Governor Tina Kotek, stated that while federal regulation is most effective, President Donald Trump dismisses the need for basic guardrails. He emphasized that states must act with greater urgency to manage AI's economic and resource impacts.
In Wisconsin, Democratic nominee David Crowley indicated that AI safety is an issue the state can address, but stressed the need for strong federal partnership. However, his campaign, like much of the Democratic primary, has largely focused on the proliferation of data centers in the state.