McMorrow Makes AI Job Displacement Central to Senate Campaign
Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow is making artificial intelligence's impact on workers a centerpiece of her U.S. Senate campaign, proposing a federal jobs program to retrain workers displaced by AI automation.
McMorrow's plan, the AI Workforce Reinvestment Fund, would create professional apprenticeships for early-career workers and expand unemployment benefits for those whose jobs are automated. A new tax on large corporations' AI use would fund the program.
"This is a topic that increasingly comes up more and more, particularly for young people and people who have been working in office jobs that in the past haven't been automated, but now, increasingly are," McMorrow said. "This is a policy proposal to lean in and recognize that this disruption is happening right now, and we can't afford to wait."
Worker Anxiety About AI Is Growing
McMorrow's focus reflects broad unease about AI among American workers. Only 18% of Gen Z respondents feel hopeful about AI, according to recent Gallup polling. A Pew Research Center poll found that 50% of Americans are "more concerned than excited" about AI, compared to 10% who are "more excited than concerned."
Pope Leo XIV released a nearly 40,000-word encyclical this week addressing AI development, calling for Christians and people of "goodwill" to remain "profoundly human" as AI threatens significant societal change. College graduates have booed mentions of AI during commencement speeches.
A Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos poll found that 51% of Americans don't trust either Republicans or Democrats to handle AI policy well. Voters who supported Donald Trump in 2024 are evenly divided on whether AI risks outweigh benefits, while significantly more Kamala Harris voters say the risks are greater.
The Job Displacement Question Remains Contested
Tech executives and some economists dismiss fears of mass job loss from AI, arguing the technology will create new employment opportunities. Other economists warn of significant unemployment driven by AI adoption.
A Goldman Sachs report estimates that AI could automate tasks accounting for 25% of all work hours. The same firm warns that workers whose jobs are replaced by AI might face long-lasting economic damage.
Recent examples support concerns about near-term displacement. Acrisure, a Grand Rapids insurance company, announced last week it would lay off over 2,000 employees this year due to growing AI use.
McMorrow Draws Lessons From Auto Industry
McMorrow's approach reflects Michigan's experience with automation in the automotive industry during the 1980s. "We hope for the best-case scenario, but Michigan has seen the impact of when we hope for the best and don't plan for the worst," she said.
Her campaign has increased social media posts about AI and criticized AI-powered dynamic pricing and political spending by AI industry leaders. Taxing corporate AI use has gained support among some Democratic candidates, particularly as major technology companies report spending more on AI than on worker wages.
The proposal will likely face Republican opposition. Republicans control both congressional chambers and the White House.
McMorrow Faces Competition and Outside Spending
McMorrow is competing in a tight Democratic primary race with Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed. The primary is August 4. The winner will likely face Trump-endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November's general election.
El-Sayed has focused on data center regulation and job guarantees in communities that approve data centers. Stevens has largely avoided the AI issue while advancing House legislation to promote AI adoption.
McMorrow acknowledged the political risk of her position. Pro-AI super PACs have spent roughly $14 million in House races through mid-May. "The sad reality is the amount of money that AI companies are pouring into campaigns all across the country to take down anybody who dares to stand up with them," McMorrow said. "We're prepared for that, but we can't afford to not do the right thing by people."
For professionals in government and human resources roles, understanding how AI policy proposals like McMorrow's could affect workforce planning is increasingly critical. Resources like the AI Learning Path for Policy Makers cover governance frameworks and data-driven policy analysis relevant to these emerging debates.
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