OpenAI, known for its artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, has tapped a roster of Democratic operatives to lobby California officials as the company pushes to restructure, Politico reported Sunday.
The group of roughly six advisers is leaning on connections in Sacramento to help shepherd OpenAI’s shift from a nonprofit to a public benefit corporation — a model that allows outside investment while nominally preserving oversight from its nonprofit arm. Because California’s attorney general must oversee the restructuring, CEO Sam Altman recruited advisers with deep ties to state Democrats, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Newsom Vows To Pack California’s Conservative Outposts With Dem Voters, New Map Shows)
The move underscores OpenAI’s break from its founding nonprofit mission, a pivot that drew sharp criticism from cofounder Elon Musk, who quit the board and later accused the company of chasing profits over principles.
OpenAI’s lobbying push is being led by Chris Lehane, a veteran Democratic strategist who was on the communications team for the Clinton White House during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Lehane told Politico he has styled the effort like a political campaign, aiming to pair a “public narrative with real, substantive ideas.”
Following Lehane’s arrival, two advisers linked to Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom reportedly joined the team. One is Peter Ragone, who helped Newsom navigate a personal scandal as San Francisco mayor and later advised him on artificial intelligence. Ragone is now part of OpenAI’s global affairs staff, according to the outlet.
The roster also includes Brian Brokaw, Kamala Harris’ former campaign manager and a close adviser to Newsom, the outlet reported. Debbie Mesloh, a longtime Harris ally, and former California Sen. Laphonza Butler, a Democratic powerbroker with deep labor ties, have signed on as well.
OpenAI has paired this effort with the launch of a nonprofit commission it says will “help ensure that our nonprofit becomes a force multiplier for communities and mission-driven organizations tackling urgent global challenges.” The panel includes Newsom aide-turned-strategist Daniel Zingale and United Farm Workers cofounder Dolores Huerta, a Democratic activist with decades of clout, according to the outlet.
The group is tasked with gathering input from health, education and public service leaders — particularly in California — while OpenAI leans on its Democratic allies to secure political backing for the restructuring.
OpenAI did not respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.
