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W.051Anthropic-funded Public First says it spent more than $63M on 17 midterm candidates and 10 won. Leading the Future’s filings show $76M raised, 99% from four donors

AI safety advocates made gains after a $110M midterm fight with the AI industry’s super PACs, Bloomberg reported on November 7. Public First, the network Anthropic has given $40M, says it spent more than $63M backing 17 congressional candidates, and 10 won. Leading the Future says it spent at least $54M on 48 candidates, 41 of whom won. Its filings show $76.0M raised through October 14, 99% of it from four donors.

· Run 19 · Wire
Public First, reported spending
>$63M
10 of 17 candidates won, per Bloomberg
Leading the Future, reported spending
≥$54M
41 of 48 won, 2 uncalled, it says
Leading the Future, raised to Oct 14
$76.0M
99% from four donors (FEC)
Anthropic to Public First Action
$40M
in two gifts; for education and policy, it says

The result

Each side reported its own scorecard. Public First said it spent more than $63M backing 17 candidates, and Bloomberg reported that 10 of them won. Leading the Future said it spent at least $54M across 48 candidates, of whom 41 won and 2 were uncalled, Briefs.co reported. The two claims add up to more than $117M; Bloomberg’s headline put the fight at $110M, and we could not see how it counted. Other tallies differ: Fast Company counted 8 wins in 13 races for Public First, and an analysis of filings through October 30 counted 12 wins in its 13 general-election races. The counts depend on whether primaries are included and how a race is assigned to a side.

The scale differs per candidate. On the groups’ own figures, Public First spent about $3.7M per candidate and Leading the Future about $1.1M. Public First concentrated on a few races; its largest, in New York’s 12th district, came in a June primary, where Jobs and Democracy PAC spent about $15M for Alex Bores, a state legislator and co-author of New York’s AI safety law, the RAISE Act, and Leading the Future’s Think Big spent about $8.2M against him. Bores lost to Micah Lasher. In the general election, Leading the Future’s largest loss was in South Carolina, where two groups linked to it spent about $4.8M for Senator Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, appointed after his death in July. She lost to the Democrat Annie Andrews.

Public First reported spending more on fewer candidates

Spending each network reported after the election, $ millions, with the number of candidates it backed and how many won. Public First: “more than $63 million,” 17 congressional candidates, 10 won (Bloomberg). Leading the Future: “at least $54 million,” 48 candidates, 41 won, 2 uncalled (its own figures, via Briefs.co). Neither figure has been checked against filings; the definitions of spending may differ.

0$20M$40M$60M$80MPublic First17 congressional candidates, 10 wonPublic First: >$63M reported spent; 17 congressional candidates, 10 won>$63MLeading the Future48 candidates, 41 won, 2 uncalledLeading the Future: ≥$54M reported spent; 48 candidates, 41 won, 2 uncalled≥$54M
0$20M$40M$60M$80MPublic First17 candidates, 10 wonPublic First: >$63M reported spent; 17 candidates, 10 won>$63MLeading the Future48 candidates, 41 wonLeading the Future: ≥$54M reported spent; 48 candidates, 41 won≥$54M

Where the money came from

Four people funded nearly all of Leading the Future. Through October 14 the super PAC reported $76.0M of receipts and $52.2M of disbursements, with $23.8M left. Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen, the founders of Andreessen Horowitz, gave $25M each, and OpenAI president Greg Brockman and Anna Brockman $12.5M each: $75.0M, or 99% of the total.

Public First’s money passes through several layers. Its three super PACs reported $34.1M of receipts through September 30, or about $29.7M after $4.35M moved between them, less than the $63M the network says it spent, which may also include its non-profit arm’s spending and spending after September. Most came from Public First Action, a non-profit that does not have to name its donors. Anthropic says it gave Public First Action $20M in February and $20M more in July, and that the money is for public education and policy work, not elections. Dario Amodei, its chief executive, gave $1M to the Public First PAC himself.

Four donors gave 99% of Leading the Future’s money

$ millions. Leading the Future: receipts reported to the FEC through October 14, split by donor; the grey segment is all other donors. Public First: receipts of its three super PACs through September 30, which include about $4.35M moved from Public First PAC to the other two, so they overstate the total. Anthropic: its two announced gifts to Public First Action, a 501(c)(4) non-profit; Anthropic says they are restricted to education and policy work. Hover a segment for each donor.

0$20M$40M$60M$80MLeading the Future, receipts to Oct 14Receipts by donorHorowitz, Andreessen, Greg and Anna Brockman, othersBen Horowitz: $25.0MMarc Andreessen: $25.0MGreg Brockman: $12.5MAnna Brockman: $12.5MOther donors: $0.98M$76.0MPublic First’s three super PACs, receipts to Sept 30Jobs and Democracy PACbacks DemocratsJobs and Democracy PAC (backs Democrats): $20.74M received$20.7MDefending Our Values PACbacks RepublicansDefending Our Values PAC (backs Republicans): $8.41M received$8.4MPublic First PACboth partiesPublic First PAC (both parties): $4.91M received$4.9MAnthropic, to the non-profit Public First ActionTwo gifts, Feb and Jul 2026restricted to education and policy, it saysFebruary 12: $20MJuly 21: $20M$40M
0$20M$40M$60M$80MLeading the Future, to Oct 14Receiptsfour donors, then othersBen Horowitz: $25.0MMarc Andreessen: $25.0MGreg Brockman: $12.5MAnna Brockman: $12.5MOther donors: $0.98M$76.0MPublic First PACs, to Sep 30Jobs and Democracybacks DemocratsJobs and Democracy PAC (backs Democrats): $20.74M received$20.7MDefending Our Valuesbacks RepublicansDefending Our Values PAC (backs Republicans): $8.41M received$8.4MPublic Firstboth partiesPublic First PAC (both parties): $4.91M received$4.9MAnthropicGifts, 2026for education and policyFebruary 12: $20MJuly 21: $20M$40M

The largest bets went both ways

Independent expenditures in a single race, $ millions, as compiled from FEC filings by Transformer and Fortune; for Wiener and Rutinel, as reported by Bloomberg via Briefs.co. The five largest we could match to an outcome. Blue: the side the spending supported won. Orange: it lost. NY-12 was a June primary; the others were November races. The figures cover each network’s super PACs, not party or candidate spending.

0$4M$8M$12M$16MPublic FirstNY-12 primary, for Alex Bores (D)Public First, NY-12 primary, for Alex Bores (D): $15.0M; its side lost$15.0M · lostLeading the FutureNY-12 primary, against Alex Bores (D)Leading the Future, NY-12 primary, against Alex Bores (D): $8.2M; its side won$8.2M · wonLeading the FutureSouth Carolina Senate, for Darline Graham (R)Leading the Future, South Carolina Senate, for Darline Graham (R): $4.8M; its side lost$4.8M · lostPublic FirstCalifornia House, for Scott Wiener (D), CA-11Public First, California House, for Scott Wiener (D), CA-11: $3.5M; its side won$3.5M · wonPublic FirstColorado House, for Manny Rutinel (D), CO-8Public First, Colorado House, for Manny Rutinel (D), CO-8: $2.6M; its side won$2.6M · won
0$5M$10M$15M$20MPublic FirstNY-12, for BoresPublic First, NY-12 primary, for Alex Bores (D): $15.0M; its side lost$15.0M lostLeading the FutureNY-12, against BoresLeading the Future, NY-12 primary, against Alex Bores (D): $8.2M; its side won$8.2M wonLeading the FutureSC Senate, D. GrahamLeading the Future, South Carolina Senate, for Darline Graham (R): $4.8M; its side lost$4.8M lostPublic FirstCA-11, WienerPublic First, California House, for Scott Wiener (D), CA-11: $3.5M; its side won$3.5M wonPublic FirstCO-8, RutinelPublic First, Colorado House, for Manny Rutinel (D), CO-8: $2.6M; its side won$2.6M won
The figures behind the charts
ItemAs ofValue
Leading the Future receipts / disbursements / cashOct 14$75.98M / $52.16M / $23.82M
Ben Horowitz, to Leading the FutureOct 14$25.0M
Marc Andreessen, to Leading the FutureOct 14$25.0M
Greg Brockman, to Leading the FutureOct 14$12.5M
Anna Brockman, to Leading the FutureOct 14$12.5M
Jobs and Democracy PAC receiptsSep 30$20.74M
Defending Our Values PAC receiptsSep 30$8.41M
Public First PAC receiptsSep 30$4.91M
Public First PACs, net of transfers (derived)Sep 30$29.71M
Public First, NY-12 primary, for Alex Bores (D)lost$15.03M
Leading the Future, NY-12 primary, against Alex Bores (D)won$8.16M
Leading the Future, South Carolina Senate, for Darline Graham (R)lost$4.80M
Public First, California House, for Scott Wiener (D), CA-11won$3.50M
Public First, Colorado House, for Manny Rutinel (D), CO-8won$2.60M

What this changes on 06.ai

  • Anthropic compute pack: political spending is small next to compute, but the pack’s note on data-center politics should reflect that both camps now report wins; W.020’s pause pledges are the measure that bears on capacity.
  • Watch the post-general FEC reports, due December 3, for complete spending totals that can replace the groups’ own figures here.

Sources and method

ItemFigureSource
ResultPublic First spent more than $63M; 10 of the 17 congressional candidates it backed wonBloomberg, Nov 7 (via Techmeme)
ResultPublic First said it spent more than $63M backing 17 candidates; Leading the Future said it deployed at least $54M across 48 candidates, 41 of whom won, with 2 uncalledBriefs.co, Nov 7
FECLeading the Future: receipts $75,981,640, disbursements $52,157,821.13, cash $23,823,818.87, through Oct 14FEC, committee C00916114
FECLeading the Future donors: Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen $25M each; Greg and Anna Brockman $12.5M eachTransformer, from FEC filings
FECJobs and Democracy PAC receipts $20.74M through Sept 30, including $4.05M from Public First PACTransformer, from FEC filings
FECDefending Our Values PAC receipts $8.41M through Sept 30Transformer, from FEC filings
FECPublic First PAC receipts $4.91M through Sept 30, including $1M from Dario AmodeiTransformer, from FEC filings
Anthropic$20M to Public First Action, Feb 12Anthropic
AnthropicA further $20M, Jul 21, for Public First Action’s public education and policy workAnthropic
RacesNY-12: Think Big spent $8.16M opposing Alex Bores; Jobs and Democracy PAC $15.03M supporting himTransformer, from FEC filings
RacesDarline Graham was appointed after Lindsey Graham’s death in July and lost to Annie AndrewsThe New Republic
RacesScott Wiener won CA-11; Manny Rutinel won CO-8Washington Post, Nov 6; Colorado Sun
RacesRace-level independent expenditures and outcomes: NY-12, South Carolina Senate and othersFortune, Nov 4
RacesSouth Carolina Senate: about $4.8M from American Mission and Building the Future, groups linked to Leading the Future, for Darline Graham, who lost to Annie AndrewsThe Next Web, Nov 5

We read Bloomberg’s report through syndications. Per candidate: 63 ÷ 17 = 3.71; 54 ÷ 48 = 1.13 ($M); win shares 10 ÷ 17 = 58.8% and 41 ÷ 48 = 85.4%. Both sides: 63 + 54 = 117 ($M). Leading the Future: 25 + 25 + 12.5 + 12.5 = 75.0; 75.0 ÷ 75.98 = 98.7%. Public First: 20.74 + 8.41 + 4.91 = 34.06; less 4.05 + 0.30 of transfers from Public First PAC = 29.71 ($M). Anthropic: 20 + 20 = 40 ($M).

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Wire reports are written within hours of the news, on a six-hour schedule. Each lists its sources and shows the arithmetic behind its figures. Not investment advice.