39 congressional candidates reported paying for OpenAI subscriptions this cycle

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39 congressional candidates reported paying for OpenAI subscriptions this cycle

Federal campaign filings reveal AI tool spending is rising in politics, with at least two candidates violating OpenAI’s own rules on political advertising.

by
Editorial Team

Sep. 8, 2026

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Campaign finance records have a way of revealing what politicians would rather keep quiet. This election cycle, those records show that 39 congressional candidates reported making payments to OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, as AI tools quietly become standard equipment in the modern campaign playbook.

The figure comes from a Washington Post analysis published in September 2026, and it almost certainly understates the real picture. Political consultants note that many campaigns run these tools through personal accounts or bury the costs under vague expense categories, keeping them off official disclosures entirely.

Who is spending, and how much

Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York, logged the highest individual tab among candidates: roughly $3,260 spent on OpenAI services since 2025.

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On the organizational side, the Republican National Committee led all groups with payments approaching $9,700. Around 30 PACs and political parties also reported OpenAI payments during the cycle.

The policy problem hiding in plain sight

At least two candidates did not stop at back-office efficiency. They disclosed using their OpenAI subscriptions specifically for generating political advertisements, which puts them in direct conflict with OpenAI’s own usage policies. The company explicitly prohibits using its tools to produce political ad content.

A third candidate used unspecified AI tools to draft communications and create what the Post describes as synthetic media.

The transparency gap campaigns are counting on

Federal campaign finance law requires disclosure of expenditures, but the categories available for reporting were designed for a world of printing costs, travel, and staff salaries. “OpenAI subscription” does not have its own line item, and campaigns can legitimately file these costs under broad categories that obscure the nature of the spending.

Political consultants suggest that many campaigns prefer to keep AI use quiet to avoid voter skepticism regarding AI-generated content.

The Washington Post’s count of 39 candidates is better understood as a floor than an estimate.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.