State Assemblyman Micah Lasher secured a victory in the Democratic primary for New York's 12th congressional district, a result heavily influenced by significant spending from AI industry-aligned groups.
Lasher's win over fellow assemblyman Alex Bores was preceded by an $8 million expenditure from a super PAC targeting Bores, an action funded by AI industry groups. While the outcome is attributed to multiple factors, the industry's success in this race may deter other mainstream Democrats from pursuing aggressive stances against AI regulation.
Following the election results, both candidates acknowledged the role of the industry in the contest. Lasher, in his victory speech, stated, “I have some news for the two big AI companies who’ve taken such an unusual interest in who won this congressional seat: I won’t be taking my cues from either of you when it comes to protecting our kids, our jobs, our environment.” He was referring to OpenAI and Anthropic.
Bores, despite his loss, framed the race as a demonstration of public readiness to push back against industry influence. “This was a huge and unprecedented fight, and we did not back down. While we came up short tonight, the example set here tonight was very much not the one they intended,” Bores said. He noted that the industry's efforts to intimidate opponents instead galvanized progressive groups and unions in his support.
Lasher, who also had the endorsement of retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Gov. Kathy Hochul, received backing from a Bloomberg-affiliated super PAC that spent $10 million. As of midnight, Lasher held 39% of the vote, with Bores at 35%.
The 12th congressional district, encompassing Midtown and upper Manhattan, is a strongly Democratic area. Both Lasher and Bores ran as centrist liberals. They outpolled Jack Schlossberg, a member of the Kennedy family, and George Conway, a lawyer and former Republican.
The primary evolved into a contest between differing factions within the AI industry. The group Leading The Future, which opposed Bores, is reportedly associated with the White House, the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, and OpenAI. This group advocates for a less restrictive regulatory approach to artificial intelligence. Conversely, a second faction, more aligned with Anthropic and prominent AI researchers, expressed concerns about potential long-term and existential risks associated with AI. This group supported Bores through super PACs, collectively spending over $10 million on his behalf.
Bores, a 35-year-old data scientist, became a focal point due to his sponsorship of the RAISE Act, a state-level law aimed at regulating advanced AI technologies. Leading The Future, which asserts that AI regulation should be exclusively a federal responsibility, identified Bores as an initial target.