The $27 million Al proxy war over Alex Bores ends in a draw
The Verge
β’2026-06-24T13:25:00-04:00
π° What Happened
The $27 million proxy war between AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI over New York's 12th Congressional District primary ended in a draw, with neither side achieving a decisive victory. Alex Bores, the candidate backed by Anthropic (which spent heavily to support him), lost the primary to Micah Lasher, who will replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. However, Bores did not lose by a landslide either β OpenAI did not manage to crush him decisively. The race became a high-profile test of AI companies' political influence, with the two leading AI firms pouring unprecedented money into a single House primary as a proxy battle over AI regulation and policy direction. Bores conceded at his watch party at The Freehand Hotel in New York City on June 23, 2026.
π The Backstory
Alex Bores is a New York state assemblymember who ran for the open congressional seat in NY-12 after Jerry Nadler announced retirement. The race attracted extraordinary attention because it became a battleground between Anthropic (maker of Claude) and OpenAI (maker of ChatGPT), the two most prominent AI companies. Anthropic backed Bores heavily, seeing him as aligned with its approach to AI safety and regulation, while OpenAI supported his opponent. AI companies have increasingly sought to influence policy by supporting candidates, but this race represented the most direct and expensive political proxy fight yet. The total spending of $27 million in a single primary race was unprecedented for the district.
π― Why It Matters
This race demonstrates the growing political ambitions and influence of AI companies, who are treating elections as extensions of their competitive rivalry. The massive spending in a single primary signals that AI regulation β a defining policy issue of the decade β will increasingly be shaped by corporate political spending. The outcome suggests that even with heavy financial backing, no single AI company can yet guarantee electoral outcomes.
The $27 million proxy war between AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI over New York's 12th Congressional District primary ended in a draw, with neither side achieving a decisive victory. Alex Bores, the candidate backed by Anthropic (which spent heavily to support him), lost the primary to Micah Lasher, who will replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. However, Bores did not lose by a landslide either β OpenAI did not manage to crush him decisively. The race became a high-profile test of AI companies' political influence, with the two leading AI firms pouring unprecedented money into a single House primary as a proxy battle over AI regulation and policy direction. Bores conceded at his watch party at The Freehand Hotel in New York City on June 23, 2026.
Alex Bores is a New York state assemblymember who ran for the open congressional seat in NY-12 after Jerry Nadler announced retirement. The race attracted extraordinary attention because it became a battleground between Anthropic (maker of Claude) and OpenAI (maker of ChatGPT), the two most prominent AI companies. Anthropic backed Bores heavily, seeing him as aligned with its approach to AI safety and regulation, while OpenAI supported his opponent. AI companies have increasingly sought to influence policy by supporting candidates, but this race represented the most direct and expensive political proxy fight yet. The total spending of $27 million in a single primary race was unprecedented for the district.
This race demonstrates the growing political ambitions and influence of AI companies, who are treating elections as extensions of their competitive rivalry. The massive spending in a single primary signals that AI regulation β a defining policy issue of the decade β will increasingly be shaped by corporate political spending. The outcome suggests that even with heavy financial backing, no single AI company can yet guarantee electoral outcomes.