AI groups spend $20 million going head-to-head in New York race pitting Bores, Lasher, Schlossberg

• Leading the Future (backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI's Sam Altman) spent $8 million opposing Bores and favors lighter AI regulation, while Public First Action spent $11 million supporting him and advocates for safety requirements built into AI model development.
• Several smaller PACs have also entered the race, including contributions from Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen ($3 million) and Meta's Dan Ziegler, all supporting Bores and stricter AI guardrails.
• The outcome may not dramatically shift the regulatory debate, as rival candidate Lasher also voted for New York's AI safety bill and states that 'Big Tech' should not self-regulate.

Summary

Key Development:

Two competing AI-focused political action committees have invested over $20 million in New York's 12th congressional district Democratic primary, making it a pivotal battleground for future AI regulation policy.

Main Players:

• Alex Bores (NY Assemblyman): AI safety advocate who championed state legislation requiring safety regulations for powerful AI models
• Micah Lasher (NY Assemblyman) and Jack Schlossberg (JFK grandson): Leading opponents in the race
• Leading the Future PAC: Spent $8 million opposing Bores; backed by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, and Anthropic. Advocates for lighter regulation.
• Public First Action: Spent $11 million supporting Bores; received $20 million from undisclosed donors, including mid-level AI company employees concerned about technology risks

Financial Breakdown:

• Total AI PAC spending: $20+ million
• Additional support from smaller PACs, including $3 million from Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen
• This represents the only congressional race where both major AI PACs are actively engaged

Market Implications:

The race serves as a proxy battle for AI regulation's future in the U.S., with competing visions: Leading the Future favors minimal guardrails focused on job creation and competing with China, while Public First Action advocates for stricter safety requirements built into AI model development.

Political Context:

The heavily Democratic district virtually guarantees the primary winner will join Congress in 2027. Recent polling shows Bores neck-and-neck with Lasher, though Lasher also supports AI regulation, having voted for New York's AI safety bill.