Republicans Warm to AI, Democrats Skeptical, Poll Shows
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- Axios Harris Poll 100 shows a widening partisan divide on AI, with Democrats increasingly skeptical and Republicans more trusting of AI companies.
- OpenAI's reputational score gap between Republicans and Democrats grew from 1 point in 2024 to 12 points in 2026.
- Anthropic ranks No. 15 in the overall reputation ranking with a 1‑point partisan gap, while OpenAI sits at No. 68.
- Republicans say 44% of them view AI more positively now, compared with 35% of Democrats.
- Democrats expect AI to harm career opportunities and wages, with 40% fearing impact versus 32% of Republicans.
- John Gerzema notes that most AI firms have shifted right politically, except Anthropic, which remains near‑neutral.
Why it matters: The widening partisan gap gives Republicans a narrative advantage, letting them tout AI as a growth driver, while Democrats—especially Gen Z—see AI as a threat to jobs and wages, which could sway voter sentiment and pressure lawmakers to prioritize AI safeguards.
