Who Are The Democrats Taking a More Confrontational Stance On Artificial Intelligence
Progressive Democrats are turning artificial intelligence into one of the new dividing lines inside their party, with some challenging not only the technology itself but also the money, water, energy, and political power around it.
Axios noted that five influential progressives (Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts) are taking the lead in shaping a more confrontational message on AI.
The figures are arguing that AI may be sold as innovation, but its benefits could flow to a small group of billionaires while workers, consumers, and communities carry the costs. Sanders has become the most visible figure in that movement, introducing a bill with Ocasio-Cortez calling for a moratorium on new data centers, stronger protections for workers threatened by automation, and even cooperation with China on AI safety.
He has also linked AI to one of his oldest political fights, the influence of big money in elections. Sanders and Rep. Summer Lee introduced the Abolish Super PACs Act in late May, warning that AI-linked political money could further distort campaigns. At a recent event, Sanders framed AI and robotics in stark labor terms, saying, “What is the function of AI and robotics? It is to replace human labor.”
Ocasio-Cortez has taken the environmental fight to Congress. During a recent hearing, she held up jars of brown water that she said came from Morgan County, Georgia, where a Meta data center was built. She pressed Environmental Protection Agency official Jessica Kramer and called for investigations into how data centers affect water quality. Ocasio-Cortez has also co-sponsored the DEFIANCE Act, aimed at combating AI deepfakes and protecting victims, including children.
Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley, has taken a more complicated position. He has criticized data centers as largely “extractive” and has backed efforts to remove super PAC money from politics. But he has stopped short of joining Sanders in calling for a full data center moratorium.
Instead, Khanna has proposed “Work for America,” a plan to hire 1 million Americans for public works and technology training as a safeguard against AI-driven job losses. His position reflects the tension inside the party as Democrats want to protect workers without appearing hostile to technology itself.
Warren is also moving deeper into the AI fight with a proposal to tax AI companies and data centers. In a TIME op-ed, Warren argued that AI’s economic gains should benefit the broader public, not just a narrow group of companies and executives. “The American people deserve to share in the success of this technology,” she said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has tried to engage labor leaders and AI skeptics, but his executive order disappointed unions that said studying worker impact is not enough. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, meanwhile, is expected to sign a major AI safety bill into law.
The big question for Democrats is whether AI skepticism becomes a durable grassroots force or remains a progressive pressure campaign. Republicans have largely embraced AI as part of a broader competition with China, though some conservatives have also expressed concerns about censorship and national security.
For progressives, the message is becoming clearer. AI is not just a technology issue. It is a jobs issue, an energy issue, a water issue, and a democracy issue. “Americans are rightly concerned that AI may make a few billionaires richer but lead to millions losing their jobs,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar told the outlet. “We need bold proposals that will actually solve this huge problem.”
