How an Audience Question Put AI on a Campaign Forum's Agenda

A resident of rural California recounts asking two congressional candidates where they would draw limits on the government's use of AI, and argues that any voter, without technical expertise, can raise the issue at local campaign events.

At a March candidate forum in California's 3rd Congressional District, the author asked what role Congress should play in legislating the government's own use of AI and which lines it should not cross.
An earlier, non technical question from another attendee about regulating the AI industry made the topic easier to bring up.
Bennett named two limits, keeping humans in decisions such as bombing targets and ending warrantless surveillance of Americans; Hall opposed federal blocking of state AI rules and praised Anthropic, but named no limit on government use.
Because forums are recorded and posted publicly, candidates' words remain available for follow up questions, a dynamic the author illustrates with Lincoln pressing Douglas in 1858.
The advice offered: no expertise required, anchor questions to widely covered recent events, ask in good faith, and count a dodge as useful information, with the general election set for November 3, 2026.