‘Give the American people a say in how AI develops’: OpenAI’s least favorite New York politico sees an opening

A congressional primary in New York has become the most expensive House race of the election cycle, attracting over $40 million in outside spending that signals a new, high-stakes phase in the battle to shape artificial intelligence regulation. The contest for Representative Jerry Nadler’s open seat turned into a proxy war between competing factions within the AI sector.

The Pro-Regulation Candidate

At the center of the conflict was Alex Bores, a New York state Assemblymember and former Palantir engineer who co-authored the state’s frontier AI safety law, known as the RAISE Act. Bores campaigned on a platform of AI regulation, attracting donors from within the tech industry but also drawing powerful opposition.

A Proxy War Funded by AI Giants

A super PAC named Leading the Future, which counts OpenAI president Greg Brockman and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz among its funders, spent more than $7.6 million in a campaign against Bores. In response, another political action committee, Public First Action, entered the fray to support Bores. Public First Action had received $20 million in funding from the AI company Anthropic.

Industry Divided on Legislative Path

The spending deluge highlights a significant schism within the AI industry on how to approach government oversight. While one major player, OpenAI, saw its president contribute to a PAC opposing a pro-regulation candidate, a key competitor, Anthropic, funded a group to support him. This direct financial intervention in a primary election underscores the industry's escalating efforts to influence policy not just through lobbying, but by directly shaping the composition of Congress.

Market and Political Implications

Despite the financial backing from Anthropic's side, Bores ultimately lost the primary. The outcome demonstrates the immense financial power being mobilized to counter regulatory efforts. This race serves as a stark indicator that future political contests, even at the local level, are likely to become battlegrounds for the future of AI governance, as companies invest heavily to secure a favorable legislative environment.