73 percent of voters want both their federal and state governments to regulate AI, but last week, Trump decided to listen to Big Tech instead. The president, to Silicon Valley’s delight, signed an executive order that would block states from enforcing their own AI regulations. This announcement only makes bold state-level AI regulation more important. Now’s the time for state lawmakers, especially Democrats, to double down on AI regulation.
The executive order can’t stop what’s already in motion: the tide is turning against AI. 71 percent of Americans fear AI will permanently put people out of work, and this year’s 1.1. million layoffs — the most since pandemic year 2020 — stoked fears that the worst is yet to come. According to one estimate, AI was a contributing factor in nearly 50,000 of these layoffs, many of which occurred at tech companies that are gearing up to compete in AI.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is faced with a barrage of lawsuits alleging it failed to implement adequate safeguards against psychological harm, with some users and their families reporting that chatting with the human-like bot exacerbated mental health issues. Technology companies are also experiencing nationwide backlash over AI data centers — few communities want an energy-intensive project that will jack up utility bills and harm the environment housed in their backyard. Not to mention widespread fears that the AI bubble will burst and tank the economy.
It’s no surprise, then, that support for AI regulation is widespread and bipartisan. But, taking a page directly out of Big Tech’s playbook, Trump claims a national AI policy is preferable to patchwork state regulation. Indeed, Big Tech’s power in this debate shouldn’t be overlooked. Tech companies spent $36 million on federal lobbying in the first half of 2025 alone, and top names in AI have pledged a collective $200 million to two super-PACs that are working to kill state AI bills. With his executive order, Trump reminds America that he’s committed to being a friend of Big Tech, not everyday Americans.
But voters aren’t buying it: 70 percent of voters said they were against Congress passing legislation to block states from regulating AI. Trump’s tech-friendly approach to AI regulation also violates the values of the working-class Republican voters who carried him to victory. Two-thirds of Republicans have a negative view of corporations, and over half of Republicans have a negative view of technology companies. The AI regulation debate is a chance for Democrats to reaffirm themselves as the party of the working class— and maybe even regain an identity outside of being the opposition party.
Democrats are already flipping local seats in deep-red, Trump-voting districts by supporting tighter regulations on AI data centers. They’re tough on AI policies connected with working-class voters from across the political spectrum who can’t afford higher electricity costs just to power a Silicon Valley fantasy. State Democrats should seize this moment and double down on AI safety by supporting legal challenges to the executive order, defending existing legislation, and continuing to advocate for comprehensive state-level AI regulation.
In New York, Democrats face a major opportunity to win on AI: this week, Governor Hochul will decide whether to sign an AI safety bill. As Trump TKTK his executive order, Hochul wavered on comprehensive regulation, proposing a complete rewrite of the bill that weakens the original’s protections. It’s crucial that Hochul musters the courage to pass this bill, and state lawmakers partner with her to get AI regulation on the books. Enacting state-level regulation would send a strong signal to both the Trump administration and voters, and lay the groundwork for stronger protections in the future.
Fighting to overturn this executive order, no matter how legally questionable it may be, will likely be an uphill battle. The key for Democrats is to frame their support of AI safety as a challenge to the Trump administration prioritizing the Big Tech lobby over constituents.
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