Voters in Iowa and Ohio prioritize AI safety over global leadership, poll shows

A new poll conducted by Republican pollster Rob Schmidt reveals that voters in Iowa and Ohio overwhelmingly support AI safety regulations, even if it means the US does not lead the global AI race. Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO, the largest US labor federation, is drafting legislation to address worker protections, privacy, and economic impacts of AI ahead of the next Congress.

Tarun Mottlia

Editor, Lazyfounder

Published Nov 2, 20263 min read

Voters in Iowa and Ohio prioritize AI safety over global leadership, poll shows — Image: Ashley Diane Worsham on Unsplash via source

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

67% of likely voters in Iowa and Ohio support AI safety measures over being first in the global AI race.
The poll, conducted by Republican pollster Rob Schmidt, surveyed 501 voters in Iowa and 504 in Ohio from 19 to 22 October, with a margin of error of 4.4 points.
Ten AI safety proposals received at least 73% support, with the highest being measures to keep dangerous AI out of enemy hands (94% in Iowa, 93% in Ohio).
The AFL-CIO is drafting legislation focused on worker protections, privacy, and economic impact for the next Congress.

Poll results prioritize AI safety over innovation speed

A poll conducted by Republican pollster Rob Schmidt’s firm, Inquire, found that 67% of likely voters in Iowa and Ohio prioritize passing reasonable AI safety measures, even if it means the US is not the first to develop advanced AI globally. The survey, conducted from 19 to 22 October, included 501 voters in Iowa and 504 in Ohio, with a margin of error of 4.4 points.

Ten proposed AI safety measures tested in the poll received support from at least 73% of voters in both states. The highest support (94% in Iowa and 93% in Ohio) was for keeping dangerous AI out of enemy hands. Other measures, such as stronger parental controls, government safety testing before deployment, and requiring chatbots to disclose their AI nature, also garnered significant backing.

Despite Republicans viewing AI more favorably than Democrats, majorities in both parties chose safety measures over fewer regulations. In Iowa, 43% of voters trust Republicans and 43% trust Democrats on AI issues, while in Ohio, Republicans led 43% to 39%.

AFL-CIO prepares worker-focused AI legislation

The AFL-CIO, the largest US labor federation, is drafting legislation described as the "gold standard" for AI regulation, focusing on worker protections, privacy, and economic impact. The federation plans to make this its top priority for the next Congress.

The move follows a bipartisan letter led by Republican congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and Democratic senator Mark Kelly in April, which backed the AFL-CIO’s AI principles and called for worker protections in federal AI policy.

Public anxiety over AI-driven workplace changes and job losses is shaping political discourse, with 71% of respondents in a separate Heatmap Pro poll opposing data centers near their residences.

Political divisions and public sentiment on AI

Public sentiment toward AI remains cautious, with 44% of voters in both Iowa and Ohio disliking AI compared to 37% who view it favorably. However, more than seven in ten voters said they would be more likely to support a Senate candidate who backs AI safety measures.

Former US president Donald Trump has framed AI as "super intelligence," dismissing the term "artificial intelligence" and labeling those who use it as "the enemy." Meanwhile, Republican senator Bernie Moreno has criticized Anthropic’s Dario Amodei for what he called "alarmist" AI rhetoric.

Support for data centers among Republicans has slightly improved, rising from 23% in August to 34% in the latest poll, though opposition remains high.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

The poll results signal a shift in how AI regulation is being debated in the US, with voters prioritizing safety and oversight over speed or global competitiveness. For founders and operators, this trend underscores the growing political and public pressure to address AI’s societal impacts, particularly in labor markets. The AFL-CIO’s legislative push could set a benchmark for future regulations, making it critical for startups to proactively integrate worker protections and ethical safeguards into their AI strategies. The bipartisan consensus on certain safety measures may also create opportunities for startups developing compliance or risk-mitigation tools tailored to these emerging standards.

Sources

The Next Web · 2026-10-30
Iowa and Ohio voters back AI safety measures over winning the AI race

This story is an original summary drafted with AI by Lazyfounder from the reporting listed above and checked by automated validation. Facts are attributed to their original publishers; sections marked as analysis are Lazyfounder's. Where a source is in another language, facts were machine-translated and quotations are reported, not reproduced. Read the original coverage via the links, and see our AI policy and corrections policy.

About the author