Even in Defeat, a Democrat Showed the Upside of Angering the A.I. Industry

Alex Bores, a New York House candidate, faced a significant challenge in his campaign. While celebrating his anniversary at a vegan restaurant in November with his wife Darya, Bores received a disturbing call. A super PAC with a substantial budget, backed by the artificial intelligence industry, aimed to thwart his election bid through attack advertisements.

Bores, a state legislator experienced in A.I. regulation, quickly crafted a strong public response. He largely rewrote a statement originally drafted by his team, attempting to portray himself as a victim of the A.I. industry’s power.

The strategy had mixed results. Although Bores narrowly lost his race, he drew significant attention to his cause. Four super PACs, linked to competing A.I. entities, rallied to support him, contributing $19 million to counter the $8 million spent by the opposing super PAC, Leading the Future.

This influx of financial support brought unexpected prominence to Bores’s campaign in the Democratic primary for a Manhattan seat left vacant by the retiring Representative Jerrold Nadler. Bores was part of a field crowded with candidates, vying for this open position.

Micah Lasher, a state lawmaker chosen as Nadler’s successor, ultimately won the race. Lasher’s campaign benefited from a strong governmental background and significant contributions from Michael R. Bloomberg. However, during the campaign, Lasher expressed that the opposition from Leading the Future inadvertently boosted Bores’s campaign efforts, according to someone familiar with his statements.