AI Policy Examined as Congress Faces Divisions

Newsweek’s AI Policy Scorecard reveals that Congress is split on artificial intelligence issues, defying clear party divisions. The upcoming Election Day is anticipated to test if AI-related concerns will reshape political affiliations.

On November 10, Newsweek plans a live webinar titled “Midterms Review: How AI Policy Shaped the 2026 Elections.” This event will analyze election outcomes and revisit findings from the AI Policy Scorecard. The project assessed the public records of all 537 current Congressional members across five areas: Regulation & Governance, Data Centers & Energy, Jobs & Economy, Safety & Privacy, and National Security & China.

The ratings offer a pre-election benchmark for a debate that doesn’t follow typical party lines. The scorecard ranges from AI Skeptic (1) to AI Booster (5). Democrats have an average score of 2.60, indicating a Lean Skeptic stance, while Republicans average 3.26, indicating Lean Booster. Few lawmakers occupy the extreme ends: 18 are AI Skeptic and 10 are AI Booster. A majority, 191, are rated Mixed, with nine Democrats as Lean Booster and 25 Republicans as Lean Skeptic.

This is not yet following the typical polarized political dynamics of so many other issues, said Nathaniel Persily, a Stanford Law School professor and co-leader of the American Political Science Association’s task force on AI and politics, to Newsweek.

Joining the webinar are Brent Buchanan, CEO of the Republican survey research firm Cygnal, and Nick Penniman, CEO of Issue One, which focuses on political reform.

Data centers present a clearer division. In this area, Republicans score 3.5, while Democrats score 1.9. However, opposition to new facilities arises across party lines. Buchanan noted that data centers became a focal point in his focus groups last year, affecting voter perceptions of candidates.

It’s a proxy issue of, ‘Is this person in the pocket of special interest or is this person for people like me?’ Buchanan stated to Newsweek.

Interest in money and influence in the debate has grown. Issue One reported that major technology and AI entities spent $41.8 million on lobbying during the first half of 2026. Additionally, over $27 million from OpenAI and Anthropic-linked groups influenced New York’s 12th District Democratic primary.

Post-Election Day, the panel will review how AI appeared in campaigns and the implications for political coalitions around technology. They will also discuss lobbying, advocacy, and external political spending.

Gabriel Snyder, Newsweek’s executive editor, will moderate the discussion on Tuesday, November 10, at 2 p.m. ET. Register for the webinar above, or here.