🚨AI Firms Pour $2M into New York Race, Boosting Obscure Candidate
The AI arms race just funded a political dark horse
TL;DR
OpenAI and Anthropic's battle over regulation has Streisanded an unknown New York state assemblyman, Alex Bores. Their $2.4 million ad campaign made him a household name, despite his late entry.
Leading tech firms like OpenAI and Anthropic have spent millions on ads to oppose New York state assemblyman Alex Bores in the Democratic primary for NY's 12th congressional district. This spending has paradoxically boosted Bores' visibility and support, turning him into a frontrunner despite his late entry. The real story is how these companies' efforts to influence AI regulation have backfired, making an obscure candidate the face of the debate. OpenAI and Anthropic's PAC, 'Leading the Future,' spent $2.4 million on negative ads against Bores since December 2025, but internal polling shows voters were more inclined to support him after seeing these ads. The New York media market is notoriously expensive, making this a significant investment for tech companies.
Key Points
Leading the Future PAC has spent an estimated $2.4 million since December 2025 opposing Alex Bores in New York's 12th congressional district primary.
Bores filed a cease-and-desist against Leading the Future for defamation, claiming he left Palantir due to ethical concerns over its ICE relationship.
Internal polling shows voters who received negative information about Bores were more likely to vote for him, highlighting the paradoxical effect of tech firms' ad spending.
The New York media market is the most expensive in the country, making this a significant investment for AI companies trying to influence regulation debates.
Bores trails fellow assemblyman Micah Lasher by two points according to Emerson College's latest poll released last week.
Why It Matters
Tech firms' efforts to shape AI regulation through political spending have inadvertently boosted an obscure candidate. This highlights how attempts to control the narrative can backfire, turning a once-obscure figure into a poster child for AI safety debates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
Tech firms' efforts to shape AI regulation through political spending have inadvertently boosted an obscure candidate. This highlights how attempts to control the narrative can backfire, turning a once-obscure figure into a poster child for AI safety debates.
What happened?
OpenAI and Anthropic's battle over regulation has Streisanded an unknown New York state assemblyman, Alex Bores. Their $2.4 million ad campaign made him a household name, despite his late entry.
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