AI industry PACs spend nearly $1M in obscure Senate race

Political action committees tied to AI labs and investors have poured almost $1 million into a South Dakota Senate primary, outspending what residents of the state have contributed to the race themselves.

Why it matters: It's a concrete early data point on how AI industry money is starting to flow into down-ballot races rather than just federal AI policy lobbying, worth watching alongside the federal fights over data center rules and the emerging Trump-vs-states divide on AI regulation.