Meta to spend millions backing pro-AI candidates – media

The tech giant has reportedly moved to expand political influence ahead of 2026 elections

US tech giant Meta will launch a California‑focused super‑PAC to support state‑level candidates who favor looser technology regulation, especially regarding artificial intelligence, according to media reports.

A super PAC is an independent political committee that can raise and spend unlimited funds from individuals, corporations, and unions to support or oppose candidates. It cannot coordinate directly with campaigns or parties and was created after 2010 US court rulings that loosened campaign finance rules.

The group, named Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across California, will reportedly back candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties who prioritize AI innovation over stringent rules.

According to Politico, the Facebook and Instagram parent plans to spend tens of millions of dollars through the PAC, which could make it one of the top political spenders in the state in the run‑up to the 2026 governor’s race.

The initiative aligns with Meta’s broader effort to safeguard California’s status as a technology hub amid concerns that strict oversight could stifle innovation.

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“Sacramento’s regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California’s technology leadership at risk,” Brian Rice, Meta’s vice president of public policy, was quoted as saying. Rice will head the PAC along with Greg Maurer, another public policy executive, as principal officers, according to a company spokesperson.

California has been one of the most active states in advancing AI and social media regulation, with officials set to decide on safety, transparency and consumer protection rules that could affect technology companies’ products.

The move echoes efforts by other tech giants. Companies such as Uber and Airbnb have used mega‑donor political strategies to influence policy in California.

Meta also spent over $518,000 in state lobbying this spring to challenge AI safety legislation, which would impose safety and transparency standards on large AI models.

Meta’s new super‑PAC joins a growing wave of tech‑industry political engagement. Rival network Leading the Future is one example, backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, which aims to promote pro‑AI policies with over $100 million in funding.