Chris Lehane, OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer, speaks during the 2026 Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, DC. Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

OpenAI's top lobbyist is privately telling prospective 2028 candidates that artificial intelligence will define their bids for the White House.

In a memo circulated among some contenders and obtained by POLITICO — which, like Business Insider, is part of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network — Chris Lehane argues that candidates need a governing philosophy for AI, not just talking points about key issues dominating the campaign. He warns that Democrats, in particular, could find themselves on the wrong side of the debate if they oppose the infrastructure needed to build the technology.

A fight over data centers could have consequences far beyond local projects, Lehane warns.…