Voters are casting ballots in the 2026 midterm elections, and most forecasts say Democrats are likely to win the House and could contest the Senate, according to Business Insider. The report says Democrats need to net four Senate seats while defending their own to take control.
Data centers became a major campaign issue, the report says. It notes that most Americans have said they do not want data centers built where they live. Politicians have responded with proposals ranging from outright moratoriums to additional safeguards addressing water supply and electricity costs.
The report says OpenAI's top lobbyist sent a memo, obtained by Politico, pitching 2028 presidential hopefuls on how to talk about AI. Business Insider also reports that Elon Musk has donated nearly half a billion dollars to the 2026 cycle, citing the New York Times, with a large share supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Senate campaign.
The report also says California's proposed billionaire tax, a one-time 5% levy on current billionaires, has prompted some AI-focused billionaires to relocate to Florida. Business Insider reports that Meta's Mark Zuckerberg considered leaving California over the tax before Meta stepped in to address his concerns. The article says founders gave mixed responses when asked if they would stay in California under a wealth tax.