Anthropic launches 2028 political push

Anthropic is building an in-house team to work directly with U.S. presidential candidates from both parties on AI issues ahead of the 2028 election.

The role: advise candidates on AI

The company is hiring a Political Programs lead to map prospective fields in both parties, offer AI policy education to candidates and their advisors, and prepare Anthropic executives for those conversations.

Why now matters for AI

Anthropic says decisions made over the next two years will shape the future enormously, and wants every serious candidate and elected official in both parties to understand the technology.

“Decisions made over the next two years will shape the future enormously.”

Experts see this as unusual

Bruce F. Freed, president of the Center for Political Accountability, says he has not seen such a formalised engagement through a presidential election engagement committee before.

“I've not seen such as formalized engagement through a presidential election engagement committee.”

Freed sees regulation strategy

Freed reads Anthropic's effort as an AI company effort aimed at shaping or staving off government regulation or oversight.

“My reading is this is an AI company effort aimed at shaping or staving off government regulation or oversight.”

Anthropic's rocky Trump ties

Anthropic's relationship with the Trump administration has been particularly rocky. In March, the Department of Defense designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk after clashes over military use of its technology.

Amodei backs regulation, Trump opposes it

CEO Dario Amodei has called for slowing AI development and advocates for government regulation. President Trump has rejected any regulation that could cause the U.S. to fall behind China in the AI race.

Padilla warns on influence

Senator Alex Padilla says Anthropic's search for a Political Programs lead is a reminder that companies building frontier AI models are also building political operations alongside their products.

“the companies building frontier AI models are also building political operations alongside their products.”

Padilla on education versus influence

Padilla says education and influence are not the same thing, and the public deserves to know where one ends and the other begins. Rules for AI should be set by elected representatives accountable to voters.

“education and influence are not the same thing, and the public deserves to know where one ends and the other begins.”

Anthropic's PAC and employee giving

In April, Anthropic set up AnthroPAC, allowing employees to contribute up to five thousand dollars per year. CEO Dario Amodei donated one million dollars to a pro-AI regulation super PAC called Public First in July.

OpenAI takes different approach

OpenAI does not have employee-funded PACs. CEO Sam Altman donated one million dollars to Trump's inauguration fund in twenty twenty-four. President Greg Brockman donated twenty five million dollars to Leading the Future super PAC.