A POLITICO Poll reveals broad U.S. unease with artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency—even spanning 2024 Trump and Harris voter bases—as pro-industry super PACs pour tens of millions into 2026 midterm races. Pluralities see crypto as too risky and AI advancing too quickly, with voters favoring candidates backed by groups pushing stricter regulations.
Broad skepticism toward emerging technologies. The April POLITICO Poll by Public First (April 11-14, 2,035 U.S. adults, ±2.2% margin of error) found 45% of Americans view cryptocurrency investments as not worth the risk despite high-return potential; more than half have never considered buying or trading it. Nearly half trust traditional banks over crypto platforms (17% prefer the latter). On AI, a 44% plurality says it is developing too quickly, 43% believe its risks outweigh benefits, and nearly half expect it to eliminate more jobs than it creates. Two-thirds favor Congress imposing strict regulations or broad principles on AI. Doubts span partisan lines, affecting bases of both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris from 2024.
Industry ramps up political spending and lobbying. Pro-AI super PAC Leading the Future (launched August 2025) has raised over $75 million, spending on primaries in North Carolina, Texas, Illinois, and New York for bipartisan candidates. Pro-crypto Fairshake—backed by Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, and Ripple Labs—spent $28 million on competitive races and plans more bipartisan support. Both push for federal frameworks like the CLARITY Act for crypto and a unified AI policy to preempt state patchwork rules, amid record Q1 2026 lobbying by OpenAI, Anthropic, and others. “A national framework will prevent a patchwork of conflicting state laws from harming our ability to win the global AI race against China,” said Jesse Hunt of Leading the Future.
Low awareness but potential for voter backlash. Only 9% recognize Leading the Future and 3% Fairshake (vs. 48% for NRA), yet a 41% plurality sees special interest groups as having too much influence. Respondents favored candidates backed by stricter-regulation advocates over pro-industry ones. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) urged Democrats to spotlight the spending: “People do not want AI companies to run them over culturally and economically. They don’t trust crypto.” Jason Thielman, ex-NRSC executive director, stressed educating on AI's national security role. Former Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) noted: “If they see somebody is backed by crypto, that’s always going to be a problem.” Observers warn skepticism could fuel backlash as connections emerge.
