Candidate with AI Bot Fails to Pass Cheyenne Mayoral Primary, Takes 4th Place

A candidate for the mayor of Cheyenne in Wyoming, USA, utilizing artificial intelligence in his campaign, failed to pass the primary election.

Primary Results

In results announced by Laramie County on Aug. 20, Victor Miller and his AI bot VIC — Virtual Integrated Citizen — received 327 votes from Cheyenne residents out of roughly 11,000 cast in the primary election. Incumbent Mayor Patrick Collins and Rick Coppinger will advance to the November general election.

Statements from Victor Miller

"As the first person to put artificial intelligence directly on the ballot, offering voters the novel choice of AI governance, our campaign has marked a historic moment in politics and technology," said Miller in an Aug. 20 concession statement. "I served merely as the necessary human interface to get this new form of intelligence on the ballot, since current laws don’t allow AI to run independently."

Future of AI Governance

Had Miller been victorious in the primary and November, he suggested that he would handle ceremonial tasks assigned to the mayor while VIC would address anything involving decision-making. In an interview with Cointelegraph, the AI bot said many people expected the ticket to come in third in the primary race.

Although Miller and his AI bot did not pass the primary election, their campaign made significant contributions to the discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in public administration. Wyoming continues to be a leader in a crypto-friendly regulatory environment, attracting numerous companies with its innovative laws.