A $100 Million AI Super PAC Targeted New York Democrat Alex Bores. He Thinks It Backfired
Summary
Leading the Future, a new AI-friendly super PAC backed by Silicon Valley figures including Andreessen Horowitz partners and donors such as OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman and Palantir cofounder Joe Lonsdale, has raised roughly $100 million and named New York Assembly member Alex Bores as its first political target. The group says it will spend millions to oppose Bores’ congressional bid because of his role in pushing the RAISE Act — a New York bill that would let the state attorney general levy civil penalties up to $30 million on AI developers that fail to publish safety reports.
Rather than sinking his campaign, the attack appears to have amplified Bores’ profile. He frames the PAC’s intervention as a publicity boost and a badge of honour, arguing that industry money is trying to intimidate politicians who pursue AI safety rules. The article places this fight in the wider context of federal pushback — including a possible Trump executive order and GOP efforts to pre-empt state AI laws — and flags the broader national stakes for AI regulation and elections.
Key Points
- Leading the Future is a newly formed super PAC with roughly $100m in backing from prominent tech investors and founders; it plans to spend heavily to oppose Alex Bores.
- Bores coauthored the RAISE Act, which passed the New York legislature and would allow fines (up to $30m) for AI firms that don’t publish safety reports; it awaits the governor’s signature.
- The PAC argues such state-level rules would harm AI jobs and innovation; Bores contends the donors represent a narrow viewpoint and are trying to bully public officials.
- Bores says the PAC’s targeting has backfired by raising his visibility and giving the regulatory debate more attention.
- The dispute is unfolding amid federal efforts — including an executive order draft and GOP initiatives — aimed at blocking or pre-empting state AI laws.
- Bores’ tech credentials (Master’s in computer science, former Palantir engineer) shape his credibility on AI policy and his campaign messaging about safety versus unchecked innovation.
Context and Relevance
This episode is a canary in the coal mine for how private tech money and political spending will shape AI policy and electoral contests. It matters to anyone tracking AI regulation, tech lobbying, and the balance between state laboratories of democracy and federal pre-emption. New York’s RAISE Act could become an important test case: if states push safety rules and face legal or political counterpressure from industry-backed groups, that will influence how quickly and where meaningful regulation actually appears.
Why should I read this?
Because this is politics and AI money colliding — and it’s awkwardly entertaining. The super PAC tried to bury a critic but instead made him more visible. If you care about AI rules, who writes them, or how tech cash warps campaigns, this is a neat, quick snapshot that saves you the scrolling.
Author’s take (Punchy)
Think local race, think national precedent. This isn’t just one candidate getting smeared — it’s a test of whether deep-pocketed tech interests can bully state-level safety efforts into silence. If you follow AI policy or campaign finance, this one’s worth your attention.
Source
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/alex-bores-andreessen-horowitz-super-pac-ai-regulation-new-york/