The US election landscape has become increasingly lucrative for tech giants, who are pouring millions into campaigns in a bid to shape policy and secure their interests. A recent Democratic primary election in New York's 12th congressional district saw an unprecedented influx of funding from the technology sector, with over $24 million (£19 million) reportedly funnelled into the contest.
Much of this financial muscle was directed towards state assembly member Alex Bores, who had sponsored an AI safety bill. According to Tech Influence Watch, pro-AI political action committees (PACs) contributed more than $8 million to oppose Bores, while groups supporting AI regulation countered with over $16 million to defend against these attacks. This intense financial sparring underscores the emerging divisions within the tech world regarding the future of AI governance and its implications for British businesses exporting to the US market.
Despite being a primary target for tech-backed funding, Bores ultimately placed second, losing to Michael Lasher. Lasher, who secured the backing of the district's outgoing representative, Jerry Nadler, also co-sponsored the same AI safety bill and advocated for reining in big tech. The outcome highlights the complexities surrounding the impact of tech money on election results and raises concerns about the ethics of political advertising.
The New York primary is a harbinger of what is to come as the US midterm elections approach later this year. Tech-backed Super PACs are reportedly amassing hundreds of millions of dollars, suggesting a widespread strategy to influence policy and elections. This phenomenon has significant implications for British businesses and policymakers, who must navigate an increasingly complex landscape shaped by the interests of global tech giants.
Many of the organisations involved in the New York race are well-equipped to replicate their influence campaigns elsewhere. For instance, Leading the Future, which opposed Bores and is funded by OpenAI's president Greg Brockman, along with venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, has raised more than $75 million this year. Conversely, Public First Action, which supports AI regulation, received over $20 million from Anthropic. Individual tech moguls, such as Elon Musk and crypto billionaire Chris Larsen, are also channelling significant funds into their respective PACs, further solidifying the industry's growing political footprint.
The most visible consequence of this tech industry funding in the New York primary was a barrage of often misleading attack advertisements that thrust AI and its regulation to the forefront of the campaign. These tactics included ads mimicking genuine news pages and personal attacks on candidates' past employment, raising questions about ethical campaigning and the potential for foreign interference in US elections.