US House Republicans delay AI legislation amid midterm election concerns

House Republican leadership has delayed significant artificial intelligence safety legislation until after the November 2026 midterm elections. Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise have effectively shelved major bills, including the bipartisan Great American AI Act and the AI Incident Reporting Act, citing a need for further member education and a desire to avoid legislating under pre-election pressure.

Separately, concerns have been raised regarding the potential for House Republicans to challenge the seating of Democratic winners following the midterm elections. Former Judge Michael Luttig has warned of a possible “congressional coup,” suggesting that some members may attempt to refuse the certification of Democratic victors on January 3, 2027, mirroring tactics used following the 2020 presidential election.