U.S. voters hold a dim view of the artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries, and the sectors' growing political spending is poised to deepen that skepticism as the 2026 midterm elections approach. The dynamic poses a strategic problem for tech-backed PACs and super PACs that have poured millions into federal races this cycle — the more they spend, the more they may turn off swing voters already wary of the technologies.
Why the public mood soured
Polling conducted over the past quarter shows a clear shift. Majorities of registered voters now say they have an unfavorable impression of both the AI and crypto sectors. The reasons vary — data-privacy scandals, high-profile hacks of exchanges, fear of job displacement — but the overall trend is consistent. The industries, once seen as cutting-edge, are increasingly viewed as unaccountable and risky.
The timing isn't great. Midterm elections typically hinge on domestic issues like the economy and healthcare, but this cycle a cluster of races is turning into a referendum on technology regulation. Candidates who embrace AI or crypto donations are finding themselves on the defensive.
The spending paradox
Campaign-finance disclosures filed this spring show that crypto-related PACs have already spent more than $40 million on House and Senate races, while AI companies and their founders have added at least $25 million. That money buys ads, mailers, and door-knocking operations. But it also buys a spotlight. Opponents are running ads that tag incumbents as “bought by crypto billionaires” or “AI lobbyists' favorite candidate.”
In focus groups, independent voters react negatively to the word “lobbying” — and to the idea that tech money is flooding their districts. One strategist described the effect as “a tax on every dollar spent,” meaning each ad buys a little more voter hostility.
What candidates are facing
Incumbents who accepted early crypto donations are now wrestling with how to distance themselves without alienating donors. Some have returned contributions. Others have pivoted to messaging about “responsible innovation” — a phrase that polls poorly with both the base and undecideds. Freshmen lawmakers in swing districts are particularly vulnerable.
On the AI side, the debate is still forming. A handful of bills to regulate deepfakes and algorithmic bias are stalled in committee. Lawmakers who take money from AI firms face the accusation that they're blocking safeguards. That attack line is already showing up in primary challenges.
What to watch next
The next Federal Election Commission filing deadline is July 15, which will reveal whether the industries have doubled down or pulled back. Several large crypto PACs have signaled they intend to keep spending through the summer. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators is drafting a bill that would require disclosure of political ads funded by AI-generated content — a move that could reshape how the industry engages in campaigns.
The unresolved question is whether the spending will actually deliver wins. Early polling in battleground districts suggests that voters who know a candidate took crypto money are less likely to support them, regardless of party. That is the kind of data that makes treasurers nervous.
