Full Breakdown
AI Regulation Drives Manhattan Democratic Primary
5/4/2026, 2:26:42 AM
Core Contest and Stakes
The 2026 Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District, the seat being vacated by Rep. Jerry Nadler, has become a high-cost race where artificial-intelligence (AI) regulation is a decisive factor.
Background: AI Policy and Super-PACs
Bores co-wrote New York AI-safety legislation and the RAISE Act. OpenAI-aligned Think Big PAC has run attack ads, framing the contest as a proxy fight over AI governance.
Candidates and Their Positions
Alex Bores – pro-AI-safety, RAISE Act sponsor.
Jack Schlossberg – Kennedy grandson, progressive, leads internal polls.
Micah Lasher – backed by a $5 million Bloomberg super PAC.
George Conway – former Republican, anti-Trump Democrat.
Funding Flow and Numbers
Chris Larsen pledged $3.5 million to the “You Can Push Back” PAC for Bores. Think Big spent over $2 million on ads against him; Bloomberg’s PAC invested about $5 million in Lasher. Spending exceeds $10 million, plus Jobs and Democracy PAC contributions.
Official Statements
Larsen called the attacks “really despicable” and said OpenAI aims to “crush” regulators. OpenAI’s Pusateri said the firm does not fund the anti-Bores PACs and stressed safety work. WFP director Gripper said party may “do better than” Schlossberg by reopening its endorsement. Think Big’s Vlasto said Bores is “bought and sold” by Anthropic and its investors.
Criticism & Opposition
Think Big frames Bores as a vehicle for Anthropic’s regulatory push; Bloomberg’s $5 million spend backs Lasher against AI-regulation opponents. WFP’s reluctance to endorse a candidate targeted by industry PACs highlights party divisions. Internal polls give Schlossberg a narrow lead despite Bores’ spending edge.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Public polling is limited; internal surveys favor Schlossberg but lack verification. Super-PAC spending figures differ, with some reports citing $2 million from Think Big and others $5 million from Bloomberg. The impact of a WFP endorsement remains unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “really despicable.” — Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple
- “From day one, we have said what is now playing out in plain sight: Alex Bores is bought and sold by Anthropic, its investors like Chris Larsen, the Effective Altruist community, and a network of dark money fringe tech groups,” — Josh Vlasto, Think Big spokesperson
- “As the polls show Jack Schlossberg ahead, we think we can do better than that,” — Jasmine Gripper, WFP State Director
- “Unfortunately, some folks in the AI industry are really trying to make an example of Alex for daring to come up with reasonable guardrails to the arms race that we’re all unfortunately in right now,” — Chris Larsen, interview with POLITICO
What’s Next
The June 23 primary will select the Democratic nominee after the WFP endorsement decision in mid-May and a wave of super-PAC ads in early June. The winner is expected to win the November general election.
