The article argues that rising public anxiety about AI’s impact on jobs, energy costs, and local communities is becoming a potential populist political issue in the U.S., with significant implications for the Democratic Party’s strategy heading into 2026 and beyond. Polling cited suggests many Americans are uneasy or skeptical about AI’s effects, with a large majority supporting stronger government regulation of the technology. Within the Democratic Party, some strategists, pollsters, and progressive lawmakers are urging a bolder, “proudly, loudly, anti-AI” stance to tap into this concern, especially in swing districts where voters are worried about job losses and rising data-center infrastructure affecting power bills. They argue that simply cautious regulation isn’t enough, and that embracing economic populism tied to tech accountability could energize voters. Critics inside the party question whether such a hard line on AI is politically wise, given mixed attitudes among the broader electorate.
