Generative AI has officially become a line item on campaign budgets. A Washington Post analysis of Federal Election Commission filings found that 39 congressional candidates reported paying for OpenAI subscriptions during the current election cycle, a number that likely understates the actual usage given how easy it is to expense a $20-per-month ChatGPT Plus plan under vague categories.
Two candidates disclosed that they used their OpenAI subscriptions specifically for advertising purposes, which directly violates the company’s usage policies prohibiting political ad generation. A third candidate went further, admitting to using unspecified AI for drafting and personalizing messages or creating synthetic media.
Who’s spending what
Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican representing New York, leads the individual spending chart at roughly $3,260 in OpenAI payments since 2025. On the committee side, the Republican National Committee reported approximately $9,700 in payments to OpenAI, making it the largest spender among political action committees.
These numbers only capture what campaigns voluntarily disclosed in their FEC filings. Campaign staffers can pay for personal subscriptions, use free tiers, or route payments through vendors and consultants whose invoices don’t specify the underlying tools.
