Artificial intelligence development, regulation, and the environmental impact of datacenters supporting the technology have become central topics in early discussions about the 2028 presidential race among Democratic contenders. Public opinion polling indicates substantial voter concern about these issues, with a New York Times/Siena College poll showing 61% of voters opposed datacenter construction, while an SSRS/CNN poll found 71% of Americans believed the government was not doing enough to regulate AI growth and development.
President Donald Trump has indicated the United States should prioritize leading global AI development and downplayed regulatory concerns, with early Republican candidates largely following the administration’s position. Democratic candidates have positioned themselves differently, generally calling for regulatory frameworks and safeguards. Vice President Kamala Harris has advocated for guardrails while supporting U.S. growth in AI, and in mid-September reiterated calls for stricter federal regulations after technology executives expressed concerns about rapid development.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has championed stricter state-level AI regulation, implementing requirements for large companies to publish best practices and adding whistleblower protections. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has described taking a middle-ground approach, supporting technology investment while calling for clear regulations to mitigate potential harms. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has enacted datacenter construction regulations and called for stronger federal oversight.
Several Democratic figures have taken more cautious stances on AI expansion. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation in June to temporarily prohibit datacenter construction until Congress establishes guardrails for environmental, safety, and economic impacts. Representative Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, has called for stricter federal regulations and suggested international agreements with China on safety standards, though he has resisted calls for a broader moratorium on datacenter expansion.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly has called for safely implemented AI through congressional action with worker protections, proposing an “AI Horizon Fund” financed by AI companies to support education and training. Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg has long raised concerns about AI’s potential job displacement and criticisms of federal regulatory speed in addressing the rapidly evolving technology.
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