In the primary for New York's 12th congressional district (NY-12), Alex Bores, a champion of AI safety regulation, was defeated by Micah Lasher. The race—into which the pro-AI-industry super PAC Leading the Future poured heavy spending to target Bores—was described as an early, serious test of industry money at the ballot box.
June 23 State Primaries · AI Money's First Ballot Test
AI industry cash hit the ballot box — and the result was a draw
A pro-AI super PAC targeted regulation champion Alex Bores, who lost a narrow race. But a candidate who attacked industry money won outright — leaving the industry's first real political test inconclusive.
NY-12 Democratic Primary — the targeted race
39.1%
Micah Lasher
35.0%
Alex Bores
10.8%
J. Schlossberg
Targeted by the AI super PAC, Bores climbed from single digits to within ~4,000 votes — close, but short.
$140M+
Raised by pro-AI PAC "Leading the Future" by April (launched at $100M+)
~30
Races the network deployed support across
2-to-1
AI-safety PACs outspent the industry PAC in NY-12
Three races, mixed signals
NY-12 · Dem primary — industry edge
Lasher won; PAC-targeted Bores lost narrowly. Safety PACs still outspent the industry here.
Utah state senate · Doug Fiefia — headwind for industry
Won after openly criticizing AI super PAC money and resisting pressure on a transparency bill.
Utah CD1 · Blake Moore — local flashpoint
A data center project's scale and water demand became a key local issue.
Safety advocates
The industry's attacks backfired , lifting a little-known Bores to national prominence.
Industry PAC
Did not claim victory; vows to keep backing candidates for a national AI framework with guardrails.
The takeaway
Challenging the AI industry has not proven politically toxic.
AI money is clearly reshaping campaigns — but its influence is not one-directional. The fight over regulation versus innovation looks set to intensify into the 2026 midterms.
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