Alex Bores primary becomes AI proxy battle over super PAC millions
Updated
Updated · The New Yorker · May 7
Alex Bores primary becomes AI proxy battle over super PAC millions
9 articles · Updated · The New Yorker · May 7
In New York's 12th District, Leading the Future, backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's Greg Brockman, targeted Bores, while Public First-linked groups and donor Chris Larsen backed him.
The spending has elevated the little-known state assemblyman, narrowed polling against rivals Micah Lasher and Jack Schlossberg, and pushed AI regulation, dark money and data centres into the campaign's centre.
The race is seen as a test case for midterm Democratic politics, as candidates, activists and tech donors clash over how to regulate AI without ceding the issue to industry or anti-tech populism.
As politicians use AI to win elections, can they be trusted to regulate its immense societal power?
Who should pay for AI's massive energy and water use: everyday citizens or the tech giants?
Can local laws truly tame a global AI revolution before it's too late for public control?
How $265 Million in Super PAC Spending Is Deciding AI Policy in NY-12
Overview
The 2026 Democratic primary in New York’s 12th District has become a fierce battleground over AI regulation, fueled by massive Super PAC spending. Jack Schlossberg leads narrowly, while Alex Bores faces over $10 million in attacks from the tech-backed Super PAC Leading the Future, which targets his past work at Palantir despite his ethical resignation and AI safety legislation. Bores counters with a strong pro-regulation platform, supported by significant backing including Chris Larsen’s $3.5 million. This race reflects a national clash between industry groups pushing for light federal AI rules and advocates demanding strict safety measures, with the outcome poised to influence the future of AI governance in the U.S.