The Elephant and the Donkey on the same track… Artificial intelligence unsettles U.S. politics
As public anger toward artificial intelligence grows across the United States, party leaders are divided over how to channel these rising concerns.
This anger has turned into a political issue that could reshape partisan competition between Democrats and Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.
With the expansion of AI infrastructure, especially data centers, Americans have become increasingly worried about job losses, rising energy costs, and the growing power of tech giants — creating an unprecedented political opportunity, according to Politico.
These fears are no longer confined to elites or progressive circles. They have become a visible popular phenomenon, reflected in local protests against data-center construction in states such as Michigan, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Even simple social-media posts by Democratic officials now draw angry comments calling for AI projects to be stopped.
Within the Democratic Party (symbolized by the donkey), there is sharp division over how to deal with the issue. The progressive wing, led by figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders, argues that adopting a clear, confrontational stance toward AI could form the basis of a new economic populism that holds “tech billionaires” responsible for the decline of the middle and working classes.
This camp believes that hesitation or limited regulation would cost the party politically and leave a gap that Republicans could fill.
Polling data supports this trend, showing that AI is among the least popular issues with Americans. A large majority demands regulation, even if it slows growth, while only a small share believes it will benefit the country in the coming decades.
Some Democratic strategists see this broad opposition as a rare chance to unite two groups that are usually difficult to bring together: workers hurt by high energy costs and employees worried about losing their jobs to AI.
On the other hand, another faction within the party — politicians close to business circles and centrist think tanks — warns that turning into an “anti-AI party” could be a strategic mistake.
They argue that AI has become a core driver of U.S. economic growth, and openly opposing it might alienate investors, technology workers, and voters who view technology as an opportunity rather than a threat.
From their perspective, the problem is not the technology itself, but the absence of smart, balanced regulation.
This divide reflects a deeper crisis inside the party since the 2024 elections: some believe defeat came from drifting too far from the center, while others think it resulted from failing to adopt a clear economic populist message.
The debate is not limited to Democrats. The Republican Party (symbolized by the elephant) is also witnessing the rise of a skeptical current toward AI, though driven by different motives.
Some Republicans, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, focus on the negative impact of data centers on energy costs. Others, including Steve Bannon and Josh Hawley, promote a right-wing populist narrative portraying Silicon Valley as a dangerous hub of concentrated power and influence.
Despite ideological differences, the outcome is similar: growing suspicion of AI in both parties, which could trigger a political race to adopt increasingly hostile rhetoric toward it.
This race is likely to intensify if AI’s economic downsides become more visible in daily life — higher electricity bills or widespread job losses — turning the issue from an elite debate into a decisive factor at the ballot box.
Ultimately, artificial intelligence has become a symbol of a broader struggle over the future of the U.S. economy: who pays the price of technological progress, and who benefits from it?
As party leaders try to balance corporate interests with voter anger, public pressure continues to mount, making it harder to ignore the issue. The party that succeeds in presenting a convincing message combining protection for people with effective regulation of technology stands to gain significant political advantages in the years ahead.
