Two prominent factions within the artificial intelligence industry are engaged in a significant proxy battle in a New York Democratic primary, underscoring the growing political influence of AI companies. The contest for a U.S. House seat, being vacated by retiring Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, has become a focal point for these industry titans.
New York Assemblyman Alex Bores, a former Palantir employee who has advocated for state-level AI regulation, is being supported by political groups funded partly by Anthropic, a company co-founded by a former OpenAI employee. These groups have reportedly spent over $10 million to bolster Bores' candidacy. Conversely, a political group underwritten by investors in OpenAI has spent more than $7 million on ads opposing Bores, highlighting a division within the AI sector regarding regulation and industry direction.
Elsewhere in New York, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is testing his political influence by backing a slate of progressive and democratic socialist candidates challenging more established figures. In one notable race, Mamdani is supporting Brad Lander, the former city comptroller, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman. The primary contest between the two Jewish candidates includes sharp disagreements over the war in Gaza, with Lander criticizing Goldman's stance on Israel.
Mamdani has also endorsed Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist challenging U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat in upper Manhattan, and Assemblymember Claire Valdez, another democratic socialist, in the race for the seat being vacated by Rep. Nydia Velázquez. These races are expected to offer insights into Mamdani's political standing and the viability of democratic socialist platforms in the city.
In South Carolina, former President Donald Trump has taken a unique approach to ensure his endorsements prevail in a Republican gubernatorial runoff. After two of his gubernatorial picks lost primaries earlier this month, Trump endorsed both candidates—Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson—in the South Carolina race. Trump cited his desire not to harm either candidate by endorsing only one, stating he would "endorse, for Governor of South Carolina, both Pam Evette and Alan Wilson."
Utah's Democratic primary is also drawing attention due to recent redistricting, which has created a Democratic-leaning district centered on Salt Lake City. Former U.S. Representative Ben McAdams, who previously campaigned as a moderate and pro-life candidate, is now seeking to distance himself from that image. He faces challenges from more progressive candidates, including state Sen. Nate Blouin, who has secured support from Sen. Bernie Sanders, and political newcomer Liban Mohamed.
In Maryland, the Republican field vying to succeed former Gov. Larry Hogan, who maintained a moderate conservative platform, has narrowed to a handful of candidates ahead of Tuesday's primary. Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, is seeking reelection. Among the nine Republican candidates are Dan Cox, an attorney who lost a previous gubernatorial bid and leans further right, and Ed Hale, owner of the Baltimore Blast soccer team and a former banking executive who switched his party affiliation to Republican for this race.
These primaries across multiple states will provide a measure of the political clout of various factions, the influence of prominent political figures, and the direction of key parties in diverse electoral landscapes.