39 US congressional candidates reported paying for OpenAI subscriptions during this election cycle, according to a Washington Post analysis published in September 2026. Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York, spent the most with approximately $3,260 since 2025, while the Republican National Committee led all organizations with nearly $9,700 in payments. At least two candidates used their OpenAI subscriptions specifically to generate political advertisements, directly violating the company’s own usage policies. This figure of 39 is likely an underestimate because many campaigns route these tools through personal accounts or categorize them under vague expense headings to avoid disclosure.
Source: Read the original article
