AI Titans Drive Historic Spending in Manhattan Primary

A high-stakes Democratic primary in a wealthy Manhattan congressional district has evolved into a national battleground for tech billionaires. The local race now serves as a major proxy war between rival artificial intelligence corporations seeking to influence future federal technology frameworks.

Democratic state assemblymen Micah Lasher, 44, and Alex Bores, 35, are the frontrunners in Tuesday’s crowded primary election. The winner will likely succeed Representative Jerry Nadler, a 17-term incumbent who served as a prominent critic of Donald Trump.

The primary initially gained national prominence by drawing interest from high-profile figures like Jack Schlossberg, grandson of John F. Kennedy, and anti-Trump conservative lawyer George Conway.

However, the contest quickly transformed into a massive historic spendathon. It now ranks as one of the costliest House primary races in New York history. Super PACs connected to rival AI giants OpenAI and Anthropic have poured millions into the campaigns of Lasher and Bores.

As outside spending eclipsed $26 million for television advertisements, early frontrunners Schlossberg and Conway dropped in the polls. The massive financial influx effectively placed technology policy at the absolute center of the congressional race.

What’s at stake

Bores became a primary target for political action committees funded by OpenAI backers due to his legislative record. Last year, he successfully guided a strict AI regulatory framework through the state assembly.

His legislative piece, the RAISE Act, implemented rigorous safety protocols for technology developers and established multimillion-dollar financial penalties within New York. Governor Kathy Hochul signed it into law in December, and Bores pledged to introduce equivalent regulations nationally if elected.

“Congress is completely missing the boat,” Bores stated during an interview. He noted that public polling indicates Americans currently do not trust either major political party to manage technology issues that disrupt daily life.

Opposing television advertisements targeted Bores for accepting past campaign donations from Sam Bankman-Fried, the convicted founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The ads also criticized his prior employment at Palantir, a data firm unpopular with progressives due to its immigration enforcement contracts.

Bores defended his record, clarifying that he resigned from Palantir specifically because the firm chose to sell tracking software to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Interestingly, the heavy political attacks ultimately benefited Bores by elevating his public profile and emphasizing his regulatory credentials. He successfully assembled an unconventional coalition featuring organized labor, progressive groups, and pro-Israel moderates who typically disagree in local primaries.

“It became the proof point for how much Alex scared them in the district,” remarked Jesse Ferguson, a senior strategist working with Bores. Ferguson compared the hostile super PACs to a failing institutional force that inadvertently validated the strength of the grassroots opposition.

Bores has secured substantial financial backing from his own set of wealthy super PACs, including entities tied directly to the tech sector. Allies of OpenAI have eagerly pointed out these corporate connections.

According to data from AdImpact, a super PAC heavily backed by Anthropic—the primary competitor to OpenAI—has directed more than $4 million toward pro-Bores television commercials. Total spending from Anthropic-aligned groups supporting Bores has now climbed past $10 million.

Additionally, cryptocurrency executive Chris Larsen pledged more than $3 million to boost Bores’s congressional bid.

Anthropic and OpenAI remain locked in a fierce corporate rivalry that has increasingly manifested as political spending throughout recent election cycles. OpenAI publicly advocates for centralized federal oversight, whereas Anthropic supports state-level mandates mirroring Bores’s legislative model.

Anthony Rivera-Rodriguez, speaking for an Anthropic-supported super PAC, framed the group as a defender of public safety. He argued that political candidates fighting for technology guardrails should not be left vulnerable to Big Tech opposition.

Meanwhile, Leading the Future, the political group backed by prominent OpenAI investors, issued a statement defending its platform. The organization rejected accusations that it opposes corporate oversight.

The group stated that financial support for Bores from Anthropic and its allies began long before Leading the Future entered the primary. The committee expressed pride in opposing what it termed an unprecedented spending effort, advocating instead for a transparent national framework.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, an active supporter of Lasher, countered that the heavy spending from Anthropic proves the primary hinges on corporate market share. He emphasized that Lasher and Bores actually hold highly similar policy positions regarding technology regulation.

The primary landscape diverges sharply from other recent municipal elections, which frequently served as referendums on progressive factions and foreign policy regarding Israel. Local progressive leaders have declined to endorse in this specific race, as both primary frontrunners maintain conventional pro-Israel platforms.

Nevertheless, Bores has tapped into anti-establishment sentiment by framing Lasher as the choice of the political elite. Lasher enjoys endorsements from the state’s dominant Democratic establishment, including Governor Hochul, former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and Representative Nydia M. Velázquez.

Lasher has spent decades working within city political circles, starting as a high school volunteer. Bloomberg, who previously employed Lasher as a legislative director, represents one of the largest financial forces in the primary, spending over $8 million on pro-Lasher ads.

Representative Nadler indicated that his decision to retire was eased by knowing Lasher was prepared to run. He praised Lasher as an excellent prospective successor for the seat.

Lasher’s campaign team rejects the establishment label. Hoylman-Sigal dismissed the characterization as a standard talking point used by opponents who fail to secure the endorsement of a retiring incumbent.

“There is no establishment,” Nadler stated bluntly.

Nadler remains highly popular across the congressional district, which encompasses some of the wealthiest and most moderate voting blocs in Manhattan. Large portions of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side previously backed moderate candidates in recent gubernatorial and mayoral contests.

Lasher, who voted in favor of Bores’s technology bill in the state legislature, argues that he would serve as the most effective regulatory voice in Washington.

Lasher concluded that if voters are forced to choose between Nadler’s endorsement and a candidate backed by Anthropic and a cryptocurrency billionaire, the electorate will ultimately trust Nadler’s judgment.

Future Outlook

The outcome of this primary is widely expected to set a critical precedent for how tech corporations interact with legislative branches. Industry analysts suggest that if Bores secures the seat, it could embolden other states to pass fragmented tech safety laws, bypassing congressional gridlock. Conversely, a Lasher victory may signal a shift toward uniform federal frameworks favored by larger Silicon Valley firms looking to avoid a patchwork of state-level compliances.

FAQs

Why has a local Manhattan House primary drawn national attention?

The primary has drawn national focus because it has transformed into a multimillion-dollar proxy war between competing artificial intelligence firms. Super PACs tied to OpenAI and Anthropic are spending heavily to back candidates who favor different regulatory approaches to technology.

What is the RAISE Act mentioned in the race?

The RAISE Act is a New York state law authored by Assemblyman Alex Bores that implements strict safety standards for artificial intelligence developers. The legislation includes multimillion-dollar financial penalties for corporate non-compliance within the state.

How much money has been spent on campaign advertisements in this primary?

Total campaign expenditures for television advertisements in this specific congressional primary have surpassed $26 million, making it one of the most expensive House primary races in the history of New York state.

Who are the prominent political figures endorsing Micah Lasher?

Micah Lasher is backed by the New York Democratic establishment, including retiring Representative Jerry Nadler, Governor Kathy Hochul, Representative Nydia M. Velázquez, and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who spent over $8 million supporting the campaign.