Alex Bores Ties for Manhattan Primary Lead as AI-Linked Super PACs Spend Nearly $30 Million
Updated
Updated · Gothamist · Jun 16
Alex Bores Ties for Manhattan Primary Lead as AI-Linked Super PACs Spend Nearly $30 Million
1 articles · Updated · Gothamist · Jun 16
Summary
Alex Bores has climbed into a virtual tie for the lead in Manhattan’s open House primary, after an Emerson College/PIX11 poll showed the once little-known state lawmaker even with Micah Lasher.
Nearly $30 million in outside spending has flooded the June 23 race, including about $9.7 million backing Bores and nearly $7.7 million opposing him, much of it from super PACs tied to AI and crypto interests.
Leading the Future and Think Big targeted Bores early over his RAISE Act AI-safety law, arguing it would stifle innovation, but the barrage appears to have raised his profile and sharpened his image as a pro-regulation candidate.
The spending has turned a local Democratic primary into a proxy fight inside the AI industry, with OpenAI-linked donors opposing stricter rules and Anthropic-linked networks and allies countering on Bores’ behalf.
That clash has also scrambled district politics, drawing in other big players including Michael Bloomberg for Lasher and leaving some voters focused on AI regulation while others say issues like opposing Donald Trump matter more.
With tech billionaires funding both sides, who is truly shaping the future of AI safety rules?
Will the AI industry's 'civil war' lead to a patchwork of state laws or a single federal standard?
AI Money Floods NY-12: How Record Super PAC Spending Is Turning a Manhattan Congressional Primary Into a National Battle Over Tech Regulation
Overview
The Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District has become one of the most closely watched and financially intense races in the country. After Representative Jerry Nadler retired, the now-open seat in this solidly Democratic and culturally significant district attracted a competitive field of candidates. The district’s wealth and influence have amplified its importance, drawing unprecedented attention and spending. This high-stakes contest is not only about local representation but also serves as a national stage for debates on campaign finance, technology’s role in politics, and the future direction of AI regulation in Congress.