Summary
The artificial intelligence industry is spending heavily in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections to influence upcoming AI laws. The Democratic primary in New York’s 12th district has become a major focus, with big money supporting and opposing Alex Bores, a candidate pushing for AI regulation.Key Facts
- AI-focused political groups have raised about $100 million for the 2026 elections, spending $44 million so far.
- Nearly half of this spending targets the New York City Democratic primary for the 12th House district.
- Alex Bores, a former tech worker and current assemblymember, supports stronger AI safety and regulation.
- Bores sponsored the Raise Act, which requires big AI companies to publish safety plans.
- Leading the Future, a pro-AI regulation federal framework group funded by venture capitalists Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, and OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, has spent $8.2 million opposing Bores.
- Opposing Super PACs like You Can Push Back and Jobs and Democracy, funded by crypto billionaire Chris Larsen and AI company Anthropic ($20 million), support stronger AI safeguards and have spent $11 million to counter Leading the Future’s ads.
- The spending has made the race a symbol of a wider conflict within the AI industry about how to regulate the technology.
- Polls show Bores and another candidate, Micah Lasher, both support AI regulation but are in a tight race.
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