Anthropic-Backed PAC Supports New York Candidate Targeted by Pro‑AI Super PAC
Key Points
- Alex Bores, a New York Assembly member, is running for Congress in the 12th district.
- Leading the Future, a pro‑AI super PAC, has launched an attack campaign against Bores.
- The PAC is funded by Andreessen Horowitz, Greg Brockman, Perplexity, and Joe Lonsdale.
- Bores sponsored the RAISE Act, which requires AI developers to disclose safety protocols and report misuse.
- Public First Action, backed by a large Anthropic donation, is supporting Bores with campaign funds.
- Public First Action promotes transparency, safety standards, and public oversight for AI.
- The two PACs represent differing visions for AI policy despite both supporting AI development.
New York Assembly member Alex Bores has become the focus of an aggressive campaign by the pro‑AI super PAC Leading the Future. In response, Bores secured backing from Public First Action, a PAC funded by a sizable donation from Anthropic. While both groups champion AI, they differ on policy emphasis, with Public First Action urging transparency, safety standards, and public oversight. The conflict centers on Bores' sponsorship of the RAISE Act, which mandates disclosure of safety protocols and reporting of serious AI misuse.
Background
Alex Bores, a member of the New York Assembly, entered the race for New York's 12th congressional district. His candidacy drew the attention of Leading the Future, a pro‑AI super PAC that has mobilized significant resources to oppose him.
Leading the Future's Campaign
Leading the Future is financed by a coalition that includes Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, AI search startup Perplexity, and Palantir co‑founder Joe Lonsdale. The PAC has already invested heavily in advertising that criticizes Bores, largely because he sponsored the RAISE Act. That legislation requires major AI developers to disclose safety protocols and report serious misuse of their systems.
Public First Action’s Countermove
In response, Bores aligned with Public First Action, a PAC that received a large donation from Anthropic. Public First Action has allocated funds to promote Bores’ campaign, emphasizing a different AI vision focused on transparency, safety standards, and public oversight.
Contrast in Visions
Both super PACs support the advancement of artificial intelligence, but they diverge on regulatory approaches. Leading the Future’s messaging appears more aligned with industry interests, whereas Public First Action stresses public accountability and safety mechanisms.
Implications
The rivalry illustrates how AI‑related policy positions are influencing political contests, with substantial financial backing from prominent tech investors and companies shaping the narrative around AI regulation and oversight.