Alex Bores (D-NY), a New York State Assembly member running for Congress, outlined plans to regulate artificial intelligence ahead of Tuesday's primary election [1].
The proposal highlights a growing tension between legislative efforts to govern emerging technology and the financial influence of the AI industry in U.S. elections.
Bores is advocating for the implementation of the RAISE Act, which would mandate safety, transparency, and accountability for AI models [1, 2]. The legislation was passed in New York in 2025 [3]. Bores said the framework is necessary to protect users as AI systems become more pervasive in daily life [1, 2].
This policy stance has made Bores a target for high-spending outside groups. A political organization funded by OpenAI investors spent more than $7 million on advertisements in the race [4]. Other reports indicate that outside groups have spent roughly $12 million to either support or oppose the Bores campaign [2].
Bores is competing for the seat in New York's 12th congressional district, which covers parts of Manhattan [1, 5]. The influx of capital from the tech sector underscores the high stakes for the industry regarding future federal regulation of AI models.
While the specific amount of industry spending varies across reports, ranging from $7 million [4] to $12 million [2], the scale of the investment indicates a concerted effort to influence the outcome of the primary. Bores said his focus remains on ensuring that AI development does not outpace the legal protections required for public safety [1].
“The RAISE Act would require safety, transparency, and accountability for AI models.”
The significant spending by AI-linked interests in a single congressional district suggests that the tech industry views local primaries as critical battlegrounds for preventing stringent federal regulation. If Bores succeeds, it could signal a shift toward adopting state-level frameworks, like the RAISE Act, as blueprints for national AI policy.
