These major issues have brought together Democrats and Republicans in states

"Big tech has "scrambled the typical ideological alignments of the left and the right," says David Primo, a professor of political science and business administration at the University of Rochester in New York. "Conservatives and liberals are saying, 'Well, here's an opportunity for us to stop what we think is a problem.'""

""I really fear that if this is not addressed in an intelligent and proper way, you know, it could set off an age of darkness and deceit," DeSantis said when proposing the bill package. Tech companies have to be regulated, he says, because they have prioritized profits over user safety."

State-level Democrats and Republicans are collaborating on significant legislative issues for 2026, particularly regarding artificial intelligence regulation and data center oversight. This bipartisan alignment represents a departure from deep partisan gridlock in Congress. Political scientists attribute this shift to how big tech has disrupted traditional ideological boundaries, allowing conservatives and liberals to unite against perceived problems. Governors like Ron DeSantis of Florida and Kathy Hochul of New York, despite opposing political views, advocate similar AI regulations. DeSantis supports Florida's Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights, which restricts unauthorized use of personal likenesses, requires parental consent for minors using chatbots, and mandates bot transparency. Hochul pursues comparable measures in New York, including banning chatbots in social media apps for children under eighteen.

Read at www.npr.org