US campaigns and a city council put AI on the ballot
A Washington Post review finds AI in nearly 40 per cent of federal and governor races, with data-center impacts driving local debate, while Hayden, Idaho advances a staff-use policy built around accurate public records.
Artificial Intelligence··Evening
AI overtakes older campaign staples in site scans
A Washington Post review of more than 1,200 websites belonging to active candidates found that AI comes up in nearly 40 per cent of House, Senate and governor races, moving ahead of long-established subjects such as Israel, manufacturing and racism. Data centers and their effect on local electricity bills, water use and land use dominate the conversation. The figures come from the Washington Post's own survey of candidate sites; The Decoder's report by Matthias Bastian rests on that review and does not detail the method behind it. Separate polls show that a majority of Americans are skeptical of AI and worried about job losses.[1]
Democrats raise AI twice as often as Republicans
The review found that Democratic candidates raise AI twice as often as Republicans, focusing on risks, regulation and child safety, while Republicans lean mostly on national security and competition with China. That split shapes how the same technology surfaces in competing platforms even when both parties mention data centers or electricity costs. The Washington Post scan is a snapshot of what candidates choose to highlight on their own sites; it does not measure spending, advertising or off-site messaging. Still, the frequency gap suggests party coalitions are framing AI through different risk lenses ahead of November contests.[1]
Hayden drafts rules before staff lean on AI
The city council of Hayden, Idaho, agreed to move forward with a vote on a policy setting out when city employees may and may not use artificial intelligence. City administrator Lisa Ailport said the text was built around keeping the city's records, which are kept indefinitely, accurate. The policy would provide AI training to guard against employees sharing private or personal information with AI; require disclosure when AI is used to create, alter or generate content; and require any information AI provides to be verified against at least one reputable, reliable and verifiable source. It also stipulates that AI shall not replace the knowledge, expertise, judgment and decision-making of city employees. Councilman David Erickson said the tool had saved him hundreds of hours on research and project work over recent months, which is why he thinks the rule is sensible. Council President Ed DePriest said the policy is a guideline and that with the proliferation of AI types it is a good idea for the city to set a framework for staff.[2]
