AI Industry PAC Spending Fuels a High‑Stakes Primary in New York

The 12th congressional district in New York has become a national flashpoint for artificial‑intelligence policy. Former Palantir employee Alex Bores, the co‑author of the state’s RAISE Act, faces a flood of outside money as the June 2026 primary approaches. The race is drawing unprecedented attention because the AI industry sees Bores’s regulation efforts as a test case for future federal standards.

Leading the Future, a political action committee funded in part by OpenAI investors and venture‑capital partners such as Andreessen Horowitz, announced a $7 million ad campaign aimed at defeating Bores. The group argues that the RAISE Act imposes “onerous” requirements on large AI developers and could stifle innovation. Its messaging frames the candidate as a threat to the competitive edge of American tech firms.

In direct response, Public First Action, a Super‑PAC supported by Anthropic and others, has spent more than $10 million to promote Bores’s candidacy. The coalition describes its effort as a fight for “transparent, national AI framework that serves workers, families, and the country.” It highlights Bores’s record on AI safety and positions his race as an early example of responsible tech regulation.

The financial duel is reshaping voter perception. Bores’s opponents, including Micah Lasher, Jack Schlossberg, and former Congressman George Conway, have launched their own messaging, but many of them receive significantly less outside support. The narrative centers on whether elected officials can stand up to powerful tech interests or whether those interests will dictate policy outcomes. The RAISE Act, already signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, requires large AI firms to publish yearly risk‑assessment frameworks and report serious safety incidents within 72 hours, setting a state‑level precedent that could influence federal legislation.

Regardless of the election’s outcome, the $26 million total spent by AI‑related groups demonstrates how deeply the industry is willing to invest to shape regulatory landscapes. If Bores wins, the race may signal that the AI sector can coexist with robust oversight. If he loses, it could embolden opponents of regulation to use financial leverage in future contests. The primary thus serves as a bellwether for the balance of power between technology innovation and public‑interest safeguards.