AIPAC, Big Tech Back Diana DeGette Over Melat Kiros With $2M Spending Flood

The contentious primary in Colorado's first congressional district between incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette and democratic socialist challenger Melat Kiros is attracting national attention, marked by significant Super PAC spending. PACs funded by AIPAC and wealthy tech industry donors have poured approximately $2 million into DeGette's campaign. These funds have been routed through organizations like EDW Action Fund and its affiliate Pro-Choice Majority Action, which are associated with Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel.

Kiros has positioned herself as a critic of unchecked AI development, advocating for a federal moratorium on data center construction. She argues that such a moratorium is imperative to gain leverage for significant AI regulation and addresses concerns about AI's potential impact on work and human rights. In contrast, Rep. DeGette has emphasized the importance of improving the power grid to meet the growing electricity demands driven by data centers, domestic manufacturing, and vehicle electrification.

The article details the intricate flow of money, with AIPAC's United Democracy Project donating hundreds of thousands to EDW Action, which then transferred funds to Pro-Choice Majority for pro-DeGette ad buys. Additionally, Project 218, a Super PAC largely funded by undisclosed tech industry donors through a 501(c)(4) organization called Democracy Matters, has also spent substantial sums on attack ads against Kiros. This financial backing highlights the vested interests of various groups in the outcome of the primary.

Kiros's campaign has gained endorsements from figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, and she has held rallies that faced venue cancellations, later moving to the Capitol steps. The debate over data center growth along Colorado's I-25 corridor and the broader implications of AI are central issues in this closely watched election.