Ryan backs Bores to replace Rep. Nadler, citing the battle over AI’s future
Ryan’s rationale for backing Bores underscores how much the debate over artificial intelligence (AI) has dominated the race to represent one of the wealthiest, most highly-educated congressional districts in the country. And Ryan isn’t the only one who based his decision at least in part on Bores’ record on AI.
When the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) endorsed Bores last week (https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/05/uft-backs-alex-bores-ny-12/413408/), union president Michael Mulgrew predicted he ‘won’t back down’ as ‘Big Tech billionaires’ try to silence him. Our Revolution, founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders, praised Bores for not being ‘afraid to name or take on the oligarchy that’s rigging the system against working people.’
The millions of dollars in spending against Bores—alum-turned-critic of data analytics company Palantir and a sponsor of the AI safety RAISE Act—has also drawn an influx of money from regulation-friendly AI and tech-affiliated groups. This funding bloc, including crypto-billionaires like Kathy Hochul, has boosted him (https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/01/crypto-billionaire-puts-3-5-million-behind-alex-bores-in-new-york).
Bores’ campaign highlighted beating Trump and his megadonors to pass the toughest AI safety law in the nation. He emphasized both he and Ryan share a belief that the next Congress must take decisive action to regulate AI before this transformative technology outpaces the rules meant to govern it. This debate continues to rage on in Washington and globally.
Bores is viewed as one of the top contenders for the 12th District, which covers a large swath of Manhattan. He faces Assemblymember Micah Lasher, Kennedy scion Jack Schlossberg, and anti-Trump commentator George Conway, along with lesser-known challengers. Public polling remains sparse, and internal polls show uncertainty.
Ryan, who first won his swing seat in the Hudson Valley in 2022 and has been floated as a contender for higher office, is making an effort to boost his national profile by supporting candidates with public service backgrounds. Bores said the Democratic Party will be lucky if Ryan is ‘its new face.’
