As concerns over the implications of artificial intelligence intensify, a New York state assemblyman has launched a political advocacy group aimed at influencing how Democrats address A.I. regulation ahead of the 2028 presidential primaries. Alex Bores, who narrowly lost a congressional primary in June centered on the issue of A.I. oversight, introduced the organization, called Who Decides, with the goal of shaping the national debate and establishing baseline policies for Democratic candidates.

Bores and his aide, Anna Myers, said the group has already raised $10 million and aims to secure an additional $20 million by next summer. The organization plans to hold forums, release policy recommendations, and deploy organizers in 11 early primary states to engage voters and contenders alike. Bores emphasized the importance of prioritizing the interests of the American public over those of technology developers and industry profiteers, framing this approach as both sound policy and a strategic opportunity for the Democratic Party.

Democrats remain divided over A.I. regulation, with some viewing the technology as a pathway to creating blue-collar jobs and maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness, while others express concern about potential economic displacement and the environmental impact of large data centers. These differences have raised the prospect of intra-party debates and attack ads during the 2028 primary season.

In the months since the congressional race, Bores has engaged with various potential Democratic presidential candidates and their aides, including Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Representative Ro Khanna of California, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and advisors to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. He noted that a growing number of lawmakers have requested briefings on A.I. policy, underscoring the emerging urgency of the issue.

Bores gained national attention during his closely contested Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District, where he lost by roughly four percentage points to fellow assemblyman Micah Lasher. The campaign became a proxy battleground for A.I. interests, with super PACs connected to leading artificial intelligence firms such as Anthropic and OpenAI spending tens of millions of dollars. These groups largely opposed Bores’s push for stronger A.I. regulations.

Prior to the primary, Bores sponsored the RAISE Act in the New York State Assembly, legislation aimed at regulating advanced A.I. models. While the bill passed, lobbying efforts led to amendments before its enactment, with Governor Kathy Hochul signing the modified legislation. Bores faced nearly $8 million in opposition spending from industry-aligned groups during the campaign, while super PACs supporting his candidacy spent at least $19 million.

Despite his loss, Bores has emerged as a prominent voice in the movement to regulate artificial intelligence at the national level. His new organization, Who Decides, is structured as a dark-money nonprofit without a requirement to disclose donors. Bores declined to identify the group’s financial backers but stated that none of the funds raised so far come directly from major A.I. companies or their executives.