A bipartisan nonprofit is putting serious money behind an unlikely coalition: Republican members of Congress who want tighter AI regulations. Public First Action is rolling out a $15 million campaign to promote 16 GOP lawmakers who have taken positions on AI safety issues like child protection and national security.
The initiative, which launched during the week of July 13-17, kicked off with more than $7 million in initial advertising.
The money trail and who’s behind it
Public First Action is a 501(c)(4) organization co-founded by former Representatives Brad Carson, a Democrat from Oklahoma, and Chris Stewart, a Republican from Utah, in late 2025. The group’s entire thesis is that AI governance shouldn’t be a partisan food fight.
As of June 30, 2026, Public First Action had raised over $80 million in total for its efforts this election cycle.
