OpenAI Executive Tells Potential 2028 Candidates AI Will Shape the Race

As both US parties gear up for the 2028 presidential race, AI policy is becoming a major campaign issue.

According to Business Insider, OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane sent a memo to about six potential presidential candidates, members of Congress, and political figures. He said AI will shape the next presidential campaign, and candidates need a full AI governance vision, not just a few talking points.

Lehane warned Democrats that fighting AI infrastructure could put them at a disadvantage. He pushed for a middle path: no unchecked AI growth, but no letting a small elite control the tech either. He compared the AI era to the 1932 New Deal.

He noted data center fights are already a cost-of-living issue in the 2026 elections. Lehane urged candidates to explain how humans will stay in charge of big decisions, and how AI should be taxed and keep kids safe.