Pro-AI Super PAC Targets Alex Bores’ Congressional Campaign
A pro-AI super PAC backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman has set its sights on New York Assembly member Alex Bores and his congressional campaign as its first target.
The PAC, called Leading the Future, was formed in August with over $100 million committed to supporting politicians who favor a light-touch or no-touch approach to AI regulation. Its focus is on policymakers who advocate for stricter oversight of AI technologies. Other prominent tech figures backing the effort include Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale and the AI search engine Perplexity.
“I appreciate their directness,” Bores told journalists Monday evening at a Journalism Workshop on AGI impacts and governance in Washington, D.C. “When they say, ‘We’re going to spend millions against Alex because he might regulate Big Tech and put basic guardrails on AI,’ I simply communicate that to my constituents.”
Bores, running to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District, said AI concerns are growing among his constituents. Voters worry about issues such as rising utility bills caused by data centers, climate impacts, mental health effects on children from chatbots, and job displacement due to automation.
The RAISE Act and Industry Pushback
Bores is the chief sponsor of New York’s bipartisan RAISE Act, which requires large AI companies to have a safety plan to prevent critical harms, follow their own plan, and disclose major safety incidents, such as model thefts. The legislation also bars firms from releasing models that pose unreasonable risks and sets civil penalties up to $30 million for noncompliance. The bill is awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.
While drafting the bill, Bores consulted with major AI firms including OpenAI and Anthropic. Negotiations led to the removal of provisions such as third-party safety audits, which the industry resisted. Despite these concessions, both the RAISE Act and Bores himself have drawn strong opposition from Silicon Valley.
Zac Moffatt and Josh Vlasto, leaders of Leading the Future, stated that they plan a multibillion-dollar campaign to defeat Bores’ congressional bid. In a statement, the PAC accused Bores of promoting “ideological and politically motivated legislation that would handcuff not only New York, but the entire country’s ability to lead on AI jobs and innovation.” They argued that bills like the RAISE Act threaten U.S. competitiveness, limit economic growth, expose users to foreign influence, and undermine national security.
“The RAISE Act exemplifies patchwork, uninformed state laws that slow American progress and give China an advantage in the AI race,” Moffatt and Vlasto said. They stressed the need for a consistent national regulatory framework that supports the economy, creates jobs, strengthens communities, and protects users.
States as Policy Laboratories for AI Regulation
Many in Silicon Valley have pushed to prevent states from passing AI regulations. Earlier this year, a provision blocking state-level AI laws was included in the federal budget bill but later removed. Lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz, are exploring alternative ways to reinstate such restrictions.
Bores expressed concern that this movement could gain momentum, particularly as the federal government has yet to pass meaningful AI regulation. He compared states to startups: able to act quickly as “policy laboratories” when the federal government is slow.
“The question should be, has Congress solved the problem?” Bores said. “If Congress passes effective legislation, states can step back. But if they do nothing, preventing states from acting doesn’t make sense.”
Bores also noted he has coordinated with policymakers in other states to standardize AI legislation, which could address the “patchwork” objection from tech companies. He emphasized avoiding overlaps with the EU AI Act and ensuring regulations do not stifle innovation.
“Basic rules, if designed well, are actually very pro-innovation,” Bores said. “The AI that succeeds will be trustworthy, and the industry pushback against government establishing that trust is increasingly being rejected at every level.”
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