Tech Funding Turns AI Regulation Into a NYC House Race

New York’s 12th Congressional District Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Nadler has become a proxy fight over artificial intelligence regulation, with roughly $26 million from tech-backed groups backing candidates like Assemblymember Alex Bores who support a national AI framework. The heavy spending—led by groups tied to OpenAI/Andreessen Horowitz and the Leading the Future network—highlights concerns about ‘dark money’ and the influence of tech money on policy. Opponents argue the money could undermine independent voices, while some tech-adjacent groups say a robust regulatory framework is essential. OpenAI and Anthropic have pushed back on being tied to political spending, as the White House pushes for a federal AI framework by year’s end, adding urgency to the race’s implications for national AI policy.