Five Storylines for Campaigners to Watch in 2026

From the fast-growing use of artificial intelligence in political polling and advertising to the emergence of new digital fundraising platforms, 2026 is set to be a big year for disruption in politics.

Here are five storylines to watch in the new year:

The Future of AI Regulation

State governments have raced over the past couple of years to enact a slew of regulations to govern the use of artificial intelligence – from cracking down on deepfakes to requiring safety tests for AI models. 

President Donald Trump threw a wrench in those efforts earlier this month, however, when he signed an executive order  directing the Justice Department to sue states and overturn laws that it deems unsupportive of “United States’ global A.I. dominance.”

While the patchwork of state laws regulating AI has caused a compliance headache for many in the campaign industry, Trump’s executive order has also stirred confusion over which state laws the administration will actually target. How the Justice Department’s efforts play out is certain to be a defining storyline in 2026.

Digital Fundraising Drama

The digital fundraising world is rife with uncertainty heading into 2026.

The Justice Department has yet to release the findings of its months-long investigation into potential illegal contributions made through ActBlue, including so-called “straw” donations and foreign contributions, and it appears unlikely to do so before the new year.