Democrats launch $1.1 million AI messaging effort for 2028

By Daniel Okafor

Tomorrow Together will launch a $1.1 million research initiative to shape how Democrats discuss artificial intelligence ahead of the 2028 presidential election. The Democratic organization announced the effort in Denver. The party began its two-day What's Next conference there.

The conference offers party leaders two immediate tasks: celebrating their sweeping wins in the midterm races and charting a course toward the next presidential campaign. The AI initiative adds a policy fight to that agenda. Democratic leaders see regulation as a way to distinguish their party from President Donald Trump.

Tomorrow Together already tested that route during the midterms. It was one of several groups that tried to counter the technology industry's huge campaign war chest. The group spent $6.5 million supporting candidates who called for tighter limits on artificial intelligence and data centers.

That spending gave the group a direct role in candidate politics. The new research initiative extends that role into the language Democrats use with voters. It is the group's latest effort to deepen its investment in AI as a ballot issue.

Why has AI become a Democratic opening?

Maddie Kriger, the group's chief program officer, tied the initiative to votes and preparedness. "We expect getting this right is going to be critical to winning people's votes," she said.

Kriger also warned of more and worse AI incidents. "It's also not out of the realm of possibility we will see more and worse AI incidents in the next year, and we want to be prepared to move to help people and take action if that does happen."

Democratic leaders believe Trump has embraced a wildly unpopular position. They say opposing AI regulation gives them an opportunity to become the party that pushes for guardrails on development.

David Shor, a prominent party data analyst, told the Denver crowd about a rare issue. Voters in both parties support regulation, he said. "I really think we're watching the birth of a new political issue before our eyes."

Shor's assessment gives Democrats a political opening beyond their core coalition, while some Republicans already distance themselves from Trump and his opposition to AI regulation.

What does the $1.1 million initiative fund?

Tomorrow Together says the new research effort will guide the party's communication with voters about AI. Its $1.1 million starting commitment deepens an existing election operation. It comes as Democrats prepare for the next presidential campaign.

The timing follows fresh warnings that AI poses risks to humans, and it comes as companies begin a new phase of development that will allow AI to build new versions of itself.

Those conditions give party strategists a more immediate case for guardrails. The warnings make regulation more urgent than a distant debate about future risks.

Can Democrats keep the advantage?

Some Republicans have distanced themselves from Trump's pro-industry stance on AI. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is the most prominent example. He is widely believed to be preparing another run for the presidency.

Karthik Ganapathy, a co-founder of Tomorrow Together, agreed with the party's emerging position. "I'd rather be us than them," he said of Republicans. His line distilled the contrast the organization wants voters to see. The contest pits Democrats' push for guardrails against Trump's industry-friendly position.

Rob Flaherty, the group's other co-founder, expects his party to retain the edge. He described the start of the cycle as a "jump ball." At that point, voters did not know whom to trust.

Flaherty now argues that Trump's opposition to regulation has handed Democrats the lead that his group expects the party to retain against Republican candidates.

"Regulating technology is where the voters are," Flaherty said.

What will the research effort change?

The research gives Democrats a tool for turning policy disagreement into a campaign message before the 2028 race. It will also test the assumption that Trump's opposition to regulation remains unpopular and that voters in both parties will reward clear guardrails for AI development.

The next year carries two tests for the party. Any new AI incident could raise demand for the protections Kriger described. Tomorrow Together has also prepared to help and take action if one occurs.

For Democrats, the immediate payoff is political ownership. If Trump remains tied to the industry's preferred position, they can make AI and data center regulation a defining issue. The $1.1 million commitment begins now. Its payoff will come as the party tests that message against voters and as AI incidents test its preparedness.