Aspen Policy Academy

San José skyline at dusk, in Silicon Valley, a tech hub.

How AI and Tech Are Changing The Campaign Finance Game

  • Article Published March 24, 2026

This segment originally aired on KQED on March 24, 2026.

Hosted by Marisa Lagos and Scott Shafer

With the 2026 midterms ahead, a flood of campaign donations is expected in California and beyond — with a growing amount coming from the tech industry, including a $500 million push by California tech billionaires.

Scott and Marisa sit down with Hilary Braseth, Executive Director of the nonpartisan organization Open Secrets, to discuss what these donations could mean as the primary season gets into full swing. They also dig into the rise of hard-to-trace “dark money,” and how emerging industries like AI and crypto are using a new playbook to influence elections and policy.

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