Defending Our Values PAC announced its first major campaign investments this week, unveiling a roughly $15 million push to back two Republican candidates it says will prioritize confronting Big Tech and shaping U.S. artificial intelligence policy. The move comes as both contests head into critical August primary dates ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The PAC identified Rhett Marques in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District and Scott Singer in Florida’s 25th Congressional District as the initial beneficiaries of its spending. The organization says the dollars will be used to boost name recognition, shape messaging on AI and online safety, and help the candidates emerge from crowded GOP primaries into competitive general-election matchups.
Defending Our Values PAC makes first campaign investments
The conservative organization, founded to promote policies addressing artificial intelligence and online protections, disclosed a planned $15 million investment intended for early primary activity and potential general-election support. The PAC frames its effort as a campaign to ensure conservative voices are influential in debates over AI governance and Big Tech oversight.
According to reporting by Fox News Digital and people familiar with the plans, the PAC selected Marques and Singer because it views them as aligned with the group’s priorities on technology policy and online-family protections. Those details, reported to Fox News and discussed with a person familiar with the super PAC’s strategy, have not been independently verified and should be considered provisional.
Who the PAC is backing and why
Rhett Marques is the PAC’s pick in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District. Marques is competing in a special Republican primary scheduled for Aug. 11 after recent redistricting changes put the seat in play. The PAC and its backers say they believe Marques would advance measures aimed at curbing large tech platforms’ influence and bolstering online safety for children and families.
In Florida, the group is backing Scott Singer in the 25th Congressional District Republican primary, set for Aug. 18. The PAC’s investment seeks to position Singer as an early frontrunner on technology and family-safety issues, giving him a messaging advantage if he advances to a general-election contest later in the cycle.
Across both races, the PAC emphasizes three core themes: pushing back against perceived Silicon Valley influence, promoting stronger online protections for children and families, and supporting policy steps intended to enhance U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence relative to geopolitical rivals. Supporters describe the approach as building issue ownership for candidates prior to November, while critics view it as another example of outside money shaping primary contests.
What this means for the House and the 2026 stakes
The intervention comes with control of the U.S. House hanging on a relatively narrow Republican majority. That slim margin means a handful of competitive districts and early investments can have outsized consequences for which party controls the chamber after the 2026 midterms.
By targeting primaries, the PAC is betting that helping preferred nominees win Republican nominations will improve the party’s odds of holding vulnerable seats in the general election. Observers see the move as both tactical — to influence who stands on the ballot — and strategic, signaling that AI and Big Tech oversight will be themes outside groups prioritize ahead of 2026.
Primary timeline and next steps in each race
Alabama is scheduled to hold its special Republican primary on Aug. 11. If Marques wins the nomination, reporting indicates he would likely face Democrat Shomari Figures in the general election. The special primary timeline compresses the window for organizing and fundraising, making early outside spending more impactful than in a longer cycle.
Florida’s Republican primary in the 25th District is set for Aug. 18. If Singer wins the GOP nomination, he would likely face an incumbent Democratic challenger in a closely watched fall contest, according to reporting. Early PAC support is intended to help nominees break out of multi-candidate fields and enter the general election with stronger name recognition and a clearer policy brand.
Campaign operatives tell reporters the PAC’s dollars will be used for targeted advertising, direct-mail outreach, and online messaging designed to highlight candidates’ stances on AI and online-safety issues. How the PAC allocates the $15 million over time — whether concentrated on primary boosts or deployed more heavily in the general election — will be a key indicator of its long-term strategy.
Why the PAC’s AI focus matters for voters
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving up the Hill’s policy agenda as lawmakers weigh how to regulate fast-developing technology while preserving innovation. The issue spans privacy, consumer protection, national security and economic competitiveness, and has implications for both bipartisan legislation and executive-branch rulemaking.
For voters in the districts targeted by the PAC, the pitch is straightforward: elect representatives who will prioritize safeguards for children online and push for policies that counter large tech firms’ influence. Whether that message resonates with primary voters — and whether it translates to a persuasive general-election argument — will be tested in August and again in November if the backed candidates advance.
What comes next
Both primaries will be closely watched as early tests of whether an AI-focused conservative message can win nominations and hold up in competitive general-election matchups. The PAC’s next moves — including any expansion of supported races or shifts in spending strategy — will signal how central AI becomes in conservative campaign playbooks ahead of 2026.
Source attribution and verification notes
This article relied on reporting published by Fox News Digital and on information attributed to a person familiar with Defending Our Values PAC’s plans. Specific details reported to Fox News and relayed to reporters by unnamed individuals have not been independently verified by The Nonstop News. Readers should consider those elements provisional until the PAC or campaigns provide formal confirmations or public filings.
Frequently asked questions
What happened with Defending Our Values PAC?
The PAC announced a roughly $15 million election effort and disclosed its initial investments, backing Rhett Marques in Alabama’s 2nd District and Scott Singer in Florida’s 25th District, with a stated focus on AI policy and online protections.
Why does Defending Our Values PAC matter?
The group aims to influence which Republicans win nominations and to shape the policy agenda on AI and Big Tech, topics that could affect legislation and regulatory approaches after the 2026 midterms.
What happens next?
Voters in the two districts will decide GOP nominees on Aug. 11 and Aug. 18. If the PAC-backed candidates win their primaries, they will move into competitive general-election contests; observers will also watch how the PAC spends the balance of its announced funds.
Primary reporting for this post relied on Fox News Digital and information from a person familiar with the PAC’s plans; those details have not been independently verified.
