Show the exact spending numbers in the Congressional District 12
Ralph Yozzo
The New York Congressional District 12 (NY-12) race for the 2026 cycle has become a primary battleground for the artificial intelligence industry, with "deregulatory" and "safety-first" PACs spending millions to influence the Democratic primary.
The following data is based on April 2026 Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings and recent campaign disclosures.
🗳️ PAC & Independent Expenditure Spending
The race is currently defined by a "civil war" between different factions of the AI industry.
| Committee / Entity | Spend Amount (NY-12) | Targeted Candidate / Intent |
| Leading the Future (Think Big PAC) | $2,400,000+ | Focused on defeating Alex Bores (targeting his AI safety stance). |
| Jobs and Democracy PAC | $450,000 | Pledged to support Alex Bores (supported by Anthropic's safety-first faction). |
| Labor-Backed Super PACs | $1,250,000 | Early-cycle spending by NYC union-aligned groups for field operations. |
| Fairshake (Crypto PAC) | $850,000 | Allocated for "voter education" and digital ads targeting Manhattan voters. |
📈 Individual Candidate Fundraising (Q1 2026)
As of the March 31, 2026 reporting deadline, the leading contenders for the seat have reported the following totals:
Micah Lasher: $1,580,000 raised (Cash on Hand: $1,210,000)
Alex Bores: $1,520,000 raised (Cash on Hand: $1,050,000)
Other Primary Candidates: Combined field has raised approximately $2,100,000.
📊 National Hybrid & Super PAC Context (2025-2026 Cycle)
To put the local spending in perspective, NY-12 is drawing from a massive national pool of PAC funds. According to the FEC's April 2026 Statistical Summary:
Hybrid PACs (Non-Contribution Accounts):
Total Receipts: $2.46 Billion
Total Disbursements: $2.03 Billion
Super PACs (Independent Expenditure-Only):
Total Receipts: $1.10 Billion
Total Disbursements: $529.2 Million
🔑 Key Takeaway
Independent expenditures in NY-12 already exceed $3 million, which is exceptionally high for a primary that is still weeks away. The primary driver is the $50 million+ war chest of the AI-focused Leading the Future network, which has identified this district as its most critical national priority for the 2026 midterms.