New York’s 12th‑district primary on Tuesday will test whether the AI industry’s deep‑pocket war chest can sway Washington. More than $26 mn has flowed into the race from groups tied to Open AI and Anthropic. At the center stands 35‑year‑old assemblyman Alex Bores, a former Palantir engineer who pushed New York’s Raise Act, a first‑in‑the‑country law requiring AI developers to disclose safety risks today.

Leading the Future, a Super PAC with more than $140 mn in backing from Andreessen Horowitz co‑founders, Greg Brockman, and Palantir co‑founder Joe Lonsdale, named Bores a target last November. Rival Pacs backed by Anthropic have poured millions into his campaign, while new groups like Guardrails Alliance have added $285 k. The flood of ads has turned Bores into a national symbol for tougher AI rules.

If Bores loses, opponents warn the AI lobby will launch a $10 mn assault on every congressman who backs regulation. The race reflects a broader clash over AI governance, as Democrats and Republicans debate the sector’s impact on jobs, energy, and child safety. Investors now watch the outcome closely, as it could reshape federal policy and reshape the industry’s funding landscape.