What Alex Bores’ defeat tells us about AI politics

2026-02-16 · Source: Transformer · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Policy & Governance, Regulatory & Compliance · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, medium

Summary

New York assemblyman Alex Bores, who centered his campaign on AI safety, lost the NY-12 House of Representatives race to Micah Lasher, with Lasher securing 39% of votes to Bores' 35%. The election saw significant spending, with pro-AI industry super PAC "Leading the Future" spending over \$8 million against Bores, while pro-safety PACs contributed more than \$19 million in his support, including \$13 million from Jobs and Democracy PAC. Lasher, a protégé of Jerry Nadler and endorsed by Governor Kathy Hochul, also received over \$10 million from Michael Bloomberg. Despite the heavy PAC involvement, Lasher disavowed AI PACs in his victory speech, and "Leading the Future" issued a subdued statement. Bores' platform advocated for mandatory reporting, independent safety testing, a "kill switch" for frontier models, and an AI usage tax for wealth distribution. The outcome suggests AI safety is not yet a winning issue for Democratic voters.

Key takeaway

For political strategists evaluating campaign platforms, Alex Bores' defeat in NY-12 indicates that a strong AI safety message alone may not secure victory in a Democratic primary, even with substantial pro-safety PAC funding. You should consider that while opposing the AI industry might not be catastrophic, it also doesn't guarantee broad voter appeal. Integrate AI policy positions carefully, recognizing that local endorsements and broader political support can outweigh single-issue campaigns.

Key insights

Despite massive spending, AI safety is not yet a decisive winning issue in Democratic primary politics.

Principles

• PAC spending can elevate candidate profiles.
• Established political endorsements significantly influence races.
• AI policy positions are attracting substantial political funding.

In practice

• Candidates can publicly reject PAC endorsements.
• AI safety advocates can test public appeal via campaigns.
• Industry PACs can target candidates to deter opposition.

Topics

• AI Policy
• Campaign Finance
• Political Strategy
• AI Safety Regulation
• New York Elections
• Super PACs

Best for: Policy Maker, Tech Journalist, Investor

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Transformer.