The primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District has become the second-most expensive House primary race on record, with a staggering $26.3 million in ad spending. This high-stakes contest has emerged as a proxy battle over artificial intelligence regulation, with the district covering Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and Midtown. The election results showed a narrow margin, with Micah Lasher securing 39% of the vote and his opponent receiving 35%. Lasher, a strong advocate for stricter AI regulations, will replace longtime Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler.
The contest was marked by significant spending, with $9.3 million spent supporting Lasher's opponent, who also faced the largest share of attack ad spending, totaling $3.6 million in negative ads. In contrast, Lasher received $8.6 million in support spending, while $1.6 million was spent on attack ads targeting him. The ad spending totals make this primary the second-most expensive House primary race, behind only Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, which saw $33.2 million in ad spending.
The primary has highlighted the deep divide within the tech community over how aggressively the government should regulate artificial intelligence. Multiple AI safety groups spent more than $20 million backing Lasher's opponent, while a Silicon Valley-backed super PAC spent over $8 million opposing his nomination. The super PAC is funded by major tech figures, including prominent venture capitalists and the president of a leading AI company.
Beyond the AI policy battle, the primary also saw significant investment from other notable figures. Billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg poured millions of his own money into supporting Lasher’s campaign, according to federal election records. The outcome of the primary has significant implications for the future of AI regulation, with Lasher's victory indicating a potential shift towards stricter oversight of the industry.
