The intraparty policy rift among U.S. Democrats over artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a key issue ahead of the 2028 U.S. presidential election. A pragmatic line that says the AI industry should be actively embraced as a growth engine has collided head-on within the party with a progressive line that calls for stronger regulation out of concern for labor and environmental harm.
On the 22nd (local time), Axios reported that pragmatists within the Democratic Party argued the AI industry is a key tool to win the tech hegemony race with China. Governors of swing states, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, focused on attracting jobs and investment by bringing in large-scale data centers and AI projects. Shapiro emphasized that the United States can beat China through the AI industry, and Whitmer said OpenAI's large project will create thousands of high-paying jobs.
This approach drew support from some labor unions. Centered on construction unions, expectations grew that building data centers could increase union jobs. The Laborers' International Union of North America, one of the largest construction unions in the United States, said data center construction is an inevitable trend and called for responsible development predicated on union participation and expanded local energy supply.
Progressive Democratic lawmakers, by contrast, warned that unchecked expansion of the AI industry could seriously harm workers and local communities. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Ro Khanna of California urged strong regulations and new legislation. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont called for a temporary halt to building data centers that spread AI without regulation.
Progressives argued that AI could replace millions of jobs and that data centers could trigger higher electricity rates and environmental pollution. Ocasio-Cortez warned that AI chatbots are harming adolescents' mental health and, without accompanying regulation, could lead to a public health crisis.
Differences also surfaced within organized labor. Unlike construction unions, the Teamsters, a truck drivers' union, strongly opposed Autonomous Driving trucks and argued that every vehicle needs a human driver. The demand drew support from some Democratic lawmakers, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, but party leadership did not take a clear position.
Meanwhile, the debate also intersected with assessments of AI policy during the Joe Biden administration. The White House prioritized technological competitiveness and private investment, opting for guidelines over regulation, but critics within the party said the process gave corporations excessive discretion. In particular, they said the surge in electricity demand and local environmental burdens from the spread of data centers were not sufficiently considered.
The electoral calculus also grew more complex. The pragmatic line can foreground jobs and growth messaging in swing states, while the progressive line is seen as favorable for rallying core supporters who prioritize labor protections and public safety. Experts said the Democratic Party's choice between making AI a growth strategy or prioritizing regulation will likely lead to significant differences in economic and labor pledges for the 2028 presidential race.