39 congressional candidates reported paying for OpenAI subscriptions this cycle

Campaign finance records have a way of revealing what politicians would rather keep quiet. This election cycle, those records show that 39 congressional candidates reported making payments to OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, as AI tools quietly become standard equipment in the modern campaign playbook. The figure comes from a Washington Post analysis published in September 2026, and it almost certainly understates the real picture. Political consultants note that many campaigns run these tools through personal accounts or bury the costs under vague expense categories, keeping them off official disclosures entirely. Who is spending, and how much Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York, logged the highest individual tab among candidates: roughly $3,260 spent on OpenAI services since 2025. On the organizational side, the Republican National Committee led all groups with payments approaching $9,700. Around 30 PACs and political parties also reported OpenAI payments during the cycle. The policy problem hiding in plain sight At least two candidates did not stop at back-office efficiency. They disclosed using their OpenAI subscriptions specifically for generating politic...