What AI companies want for the millions they're spending on elections

Here is a story making headlines in the economy: AI executives and companies are betting that spending millions in the 2026 midterm elections will allow them to influence AI bills being developed in Congress. As of the end of June, the two biggest artificial intelligence political action committees have dropped at least $44 million into 40 House and Senate candidates, per a CNBC analysis of Federal Election Commission data.

That's an early taste of how the groups will spend the more than $200 million they've raised on the rest of primary season and into the general election, according to fundraising totals provided by groups.

Financial markets are tracking the development closely as investors assess the likely impact.