OpenAI lobbyist tells 2028 hopefuls AI will define their White House bids

Nov 2, 2026
In a memo obtained by Politico, OpenAI's Chris Lehane warns prospective 2028 candidates that opposing data center build out could cost the U.S. its AI lead to China.
OpenAI lobbyist tells 2028 hopefuls AI will define their White House bids

OpenAI's top lobbyist, Chris Lehane, is privately telling prospective 2028 presidential candidates that artificial intelligence will define their bids for the White House, according to a memo circulated among some contenders and obtained by Politico.

In the memo, Lehane argues that candidates need a governing philosophy for AI rather than talking points on the issues dominating the campaign. He warns that Democrats in particular could end up on the wrong side of the debate if they oppose the infrastructure needed to build the technology, and that backing a data center moratorium could help China overtake the United States.

A fight over data centers could have consequences far beyond local projects, Lehane writes. If the U.S. loses its AI lead to China, "This could well be the 2028 version of the 2002 vote to go to war in Iraq."

The memo follows OpenAI's plans for a policy push after the midterm elections.

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