AI-funded group backs Scott Wiener for Congress with stunning $3 million gift

Public First Action, an advocacy group substantially funded by Anthropic, has reportedly put another $3 million to back Sen. Scott Wiener in his race to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in Congress, according to Washington, D.C.-based political news outlet Punchbowl News.

That gift could be more than the entire amount going towards rival Connie Chan’s campaign — not counting the independent expenditures — so far. The next campaign finance filings deadline is this Thursday. 

“I audibly gasped when I saw that amount,” said political consultant Nadia Rahman, who supports Chan. “It signals that they are really doubling down.”

The Public First Action gift went to a pro-Wiener independent expenditure committee, Abundant Future, which had already received $500,000 from Public First Action earlier this year.

Mission Local could not independently verify the contribution. Punchbowl News cited sources close to the matter. Neither Abundant Future nor Anthropic denied it when Mission Local reached out for comment. 

Public First Action is heavily funded by San Francisco-based AI firm Anthropic, which has given the group $40 million, according to Anthropic. 

Anthropic spokesperson Danielle Cohen said the AI giant’s donations to Public First Action were made “exclusively” to support the group’s public education and policy mission, however, and “cannot be used to influence the election of any candidate for federal, state, or local office.”

The $3 million from Public First Action could further unbalance the fundraising gap between Wiener and Supervisor Connie Chan. 

Chan’s campaign had less than $1 million cash on hand as of Oct. 13, according to spokesperson Ian Krager. It has five full-time paid staffers and no paid canvassers, only volunteers.

Wiener has received significant sums from those who support his regulatory approach to AI; he was behind one of the country’s first AI-safety bills. 

Chan supporters claim that Wiener “watered down” that legislation after failing to pass a stricter one that was opposed by politicos including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Chan endorser Pelosi.

“He worked with Anthropic to make it weaker, and that’s how he got it passed,” said pro-Chan consultant Jim Stearns.

“Sometimes,” he added, “big donations like this backfire because, for the last two months, there’s been an ongoing TV ad battle as to whether Scott is good on AI or bad on AI.”

Public First Action says it advocates for “AI policies that put people first — protecting families and workers, preserving democratic accountability, and ensuring the United States remains secure and competitive in a changing world.” 

Dan Newman, who runs the Abundant Future Super PAC that received the money, did not comment on the contribution, but shared three videos that he said the PAC has created using some of the $3 million. None of the three videos is about AI; two attack Chan’s record, and one promotes Wiener.

Wiener’s campaign declined to comment on the $3 million but emphasized Wiener’s record on AI. 

“Scott Wiener was in the trenches fighting Big Tech for years to get the nation’s first AI-safety law passed. He has a track record of success delivering big and important laws that benefit San Francisco and California,” spokesperson Joe Arellano said. “Connie Chan has never done anything about AI except put out social media videos once she decided to run for Congress.”

Chan’s campaign took the opportunity to undermine Wiener’s record.

“Scott Wiener’s claim that he’ll stand up to Big AI collapses the moment you look at who’s bankrolling his bid for Congress,” said Chan’s spokesperson Krager. “After putting $500,000 behind him earlier this year, Anthropic’s super PAC is pouring in another $3 million to send him to Washington. Wiener is delusional if he thinks voters will mistake Big AI’s handpicked candidate for its watchdog.”