Alex Bores was on the phone, canvassing for votes in New York’s 12th Congressional District, when a voter cut him off. “Are you the Palantir guy? Absolutely not,” she said, and hung up. The incident, he recounted, underscored the challenge facing his campaign: overcoming a barrage of negative advertising funded by some of the tech industry’s most prominent figures.
Bores, a 35-year-ancient New York State Assemblymember, is running in a crowded Democratic primary against a field that includes John F. Kennedy Jr.’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, and George Conway, the husband of former Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway. The race has garnered attention not only for the high-profile candidates but also for the unusual level of outside spending aimed at influencing the outcome—specifically, targeting Bores over his past employment at the data analytics firm Palantir Technologies. The central issue in this congressional race is the future of tech regulation and the growing influence of artificial intelligence, and Bores has become a focal point for those concerned about the industry’s power.
The attacks, amplified by ads like the one on YouTube, highlight Bores’s time at Palantir, a company that has faced scrutiny for its contracts with government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, they omit a crucial detail: Bores resigned from Palantir in 2019, citing ethical concerns about the company’s role in enabling deportations. “I will do more homework,” the voter eventually texted him after he followed up, a small victory in a larger battle against a carefully crafted narrative.
A Tech Industry Playbook
What’s happening in New York’s 12th District isn’t an isolated incident. The AI industry, and its venture capital backers, are increasingly employing tactics reminiscent of those used by the cryptocurrency industry in 2024, as detailed in a recent New Yorker report. “Silicon Valley, the New Lobbying Monster” describes the rise of single-issue super PACs willing to spend heavily to defeat candidates perceived as hostile to the tech sector. With public approval of AI declining, these groups are focusing on negative campaigning rather than attempting to promote the technology directly.
Leading the Future, the super PAC driving much of the anti-Bores advertising, has received significant contributions from prominent tech investors. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, and SV Angel Founder Ron Conway are among the major donors. The financial firepower behind these efforts is substantial, forcing Bores to dedicate significant campaign resources to defense.
“They would like nothing more than for me to be spending all of my campaign money texting and emailing right now,” Bores explained in an interview. “So there’s some amount of just taking it on the chin.” He believes the goal is to distract him from articulating his vision for tech policy and to discourage other candidates from challenging the industry’s influence.
A Unique Candidate Profile
Bores’s background sets him apart in the race. He’s one of the few candidates with a deep understanding of the technical aspects of the technology he aims to regulate. He holds a degree in computer science and has worked at multiple startups, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities facing the tech industry. “I’ll be the second Democrat ever with a degree in computer science,” Bores noted, emphasizing the need for technical expertise in Congress.
The primary field is crowded. Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, has attracted attention for his social media presence and celebrity lineage. Vanity Fair recently profiled his campaign, noting the contrast between his lighthearted public persona and the seriousness of the issues facing the country. George Conway, a vocal critic of Donald Trump, brings a different kind of profile to the race, while Micah Lasher, a former aide to Representative Jerry Nadler, has deep ties to the Democratic establishment. Cam Casky, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting, suspended his campaign to focus on pro-Palestine activism, further shifting the dynamics of the primary.
Early polling data, as reported by AMNY, suggests a close race between Schlossberg and Bores, with Conway and Lasher trailing. The outcome could hinge on which candidate can effectively navigate the complex web of issues facing the district and appeal to a diverse electorate.
The Stakes for Tech Policy
The contest in New York’s 12th District is being watched closely by those concerned about the future of tech regulation. Bores has called for stronger privacy protections, increased antitrust enforcement, and greater accountability for social media companies. He argues that the current regulatory framework is inadequate to address the challenges posed by rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence.
His stance puts him at odds with many in the tech industry, who argue that excessive regulation could stifle innovation. However, Bores believes that responsible regulation is essential to ensure that technology benefits society as a whole. “We need to strike a balance between fostering innovation and protecting consumers,” he said. “That’s what I’m fighting for.”
The influx of money from tech-backed super PACs underscores the high stakes of this election. The outcome could signal whether candidates willing to challenge the industry’s power can succeed, or whether the tech lobby will continue to exert its influence over the political process. The primary is scheduled for June 25th, and the winner will advance to the general election in November.
The next key date in this race is June 25th, when voters in New York’s 12th Congressional District will head to the polls for the Democratic primary. The results will provide a crucial test of whether a candidate willing to challenge the tech industry’s influence can overcome a well-funded opposition. Share your thoughts on the race and the role of money in politics in the comments below.
