AI Regulation Proxy War Erupts in Manhattan Congressional Primary
New York Assemblyman Alex Bores, author of the state’s strict AI safety RAISE Act, faces a costly Democratic primary in NY-12 fueled by competing Silicon Valley factions. OpenAI-aligned PACs spent $7.6 million opposing him, while Anthropic-backed groups spent over $10 million to support him. The race has become a national proxy battle over federal AI regulation, with Bores advocating for safety guardrails and opponents pushing minimal oversight. Early voting is underway, with the primary on June 25.
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AI's $27 Million Proxy War in Manhattan Primary Ends with Candidate Rejecting Both Sides
In New York's 12th Congressional District primary, Micah Lasher defeated Alex Bores despite $27 million in spending by rival AI super PACs. Pro-safety PAC Public First Action (backed by Anthropic) spent $19 million supporting Bores, while pro-innovation PAC Leading the Future (connected to OpenAI and Andreessen Horowitz) spent $8 million opposing him. Lasher won with 39% of the vote and used his victory speech to tell both AI companies he would not take their cues and would pursue AI regulation anyway. The race is the first where both sides of the AI divide openly battled, highlighting how AI companies are spending heavily on elections yet achieving little electoral return. Analysis suggests these PAC strategies are more about signaling to other politicians than influencing specific election outcomes.
Fortune | FORTUNENew York Primary Winner Lasher Defies AI Giants OpenAI and Anthropic
Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary for New York's 12th congressional district with 39.1% of the vote, defeating a crowded field of eight candidates. In his victory speech, Lasher directly challenged OpenAI and Anthropic, stating he would not take cues from them on protecting children and jobs. The race became a proxy battle over AI regulation, with competing super PACs spending millions. Think Big, backed by OpenAI and Andreessen Horowitz, spent $8 million to oppose rival Alex Bores, while the Jobs and Democracy PAC, supported by Anthropic and Adobe donors, spent $13 million to boost Bores. Lasher, a cosponsor of New York's Responsible AI Safety and Education Act, has positioned himself as a skeptic of light-touch AI regulation, citing risks to workers, inequality, and the environment.
All Content from Business InsiderInside the Massive AI Spending War in New York’s Primary
New York's 12th congressional district Democratic primary has become a battleground for AI industry money, with competing PACs spending over $17 million. The race centers on Assemblymember Alex Bores, co-sponsor of New York's RAISE Act, a strong AI oversight law requiring large firms like OpenAI and Meta to publish annual risk frameworks and disclose safety incidents. PAC Leading the Future, backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI co-founders, spent $7 million against Bores, while Anthropic-backed Public First Action PAC spent $10 million in his support. The RAISE Act, supporting by 84% of New Yorkers, passed easily but drew immediate industry backlash. Critics say pro-AI interests are targeting Bores to deter other politicians from regulation. The Trump administration also issued an executive order challenging state AI laws that conflict with a 'minimally burdensome' national policy.
The New RepublicAI Industry Spending Millions to Defeat New York Democrat Over Regulation
The AI industry is pouring unprecedented money into a Democratic primary in New York's 12th congressional district, targeting two-term Assemblymember Alex Bores. The super PAC Leading the Future, funded by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI co-founders, has spent over $7 million against Bores. Other PACs, like Public First Action PAC supported by Anthropic, have spent $10 million in his favor. The conflict stems from Bores co-sponsoring the Responsible AI Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, a 2025 New York law requiring large AI developers to publish annual risk frameworks and disclose safety incidents. The law, supported by 84% of New Yorkers, is seen as one of the strongest U.S. AI oversight measures. Critics say the industry wants to make an example of Bores to deter other politicians from regulating AI. The Trump administration also issued an executive order opposing such state laws, directing the DOJ to challenge them.
The New RepublicAI Groups Spend $20 Million in New York Democratic Primary as Proxy Battle Over AI Regulation
AI companies and advocacy groups have poured over $20 million into a New York Democratic primary race in Manhattan's 12th congressional district, making it a proxy battle for federal AI regulation. The race pits state Assemblyman Alex Bores, an AI safety advocate and engineer, against fellow Assemblyman Micah Lasher and JFK grandson Jack Schlossberg. Two major super PACs are involved: Leading the Future (backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, and Perplexity) has spent $8 million opposing Bores, who helped pass New York's AI safety law. Countering that, Public First Action (funded by Anthropic and allied with Americans for Responsible Innovation) has spent $11 million supporting Bores and stricter regulation. The contest highlights a divide between those favoring lighter guardrails to compete with China and those arguing safety must be built into AI models from the start.
US Top News and AnalysisTech Industry Defector in NY-12 Gets Boost From New Super PAC
New York state Assemblymember Alex Bores, a former Palantir employee who left the tech industry to write AI safety legislation, is running to replace longtime Rep. Jerry Nadler in New York's 12th Congressional District. A new progressive super PAC called Guardrails Alliance has raised $5 million and launched its first $250,000 ad buy to counterbalance the AI industry's spending against Bores. The AI industry, through groups like Leading the Future backed by Marc Andreessen, Greg Brockman, and Joe Lonsdale, has spent $7.6 million opposing Bores. Guardrails Alliance is funded by the AAUP, AFT, Movement Voter Project, UltraViolet Action, and the Working Families Party. The PAC plans to expose AI industry spending and support additional candidates. Early voting is underway with the primary on June 23.
The American ProspectTech Titans Clash in Manhattan Primary: OpenAI Backers vs. Anthropic Over AI Regulation
New York Assemblyman Alex Bores, author of the state's toughest AI safety law (RAISE Act), is running for Congress in a Manhattan Democratic primary. A political group funded by OpenAI investors, Leading the Future, spent $7.6 million on ads opposing Bores, warning his regulation would deter tech innovation. In response, Anthropic-backed groups spent over $10 million to support Bores, with crypto billionaire Chris Larsen adding $3.5 million. The race has become a proxy battle between two Silicon Valley factions: one favoring minimal regulation (aligned with Trump donors like Marc Andreessen and Greg Brockman) and another supporting some government safeguards. Bores, a former Palantir engineer who quit over immigration concerns, argues his record shows he can regulate AI responsibly at the federal level. Opponents claim he is a pawn in a corporate civil war between OpenAI and Anthropic.
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