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The former New York assemblymember and ex-Palantir data scientist wants every Democratic candidate aligned on AI regulation before the next presidential race.
A New York state legislator who lost his congressional bid is making his next move, and it’s considerably bigger than a House seat. Alex Bores, alongside former chief of staff Anna Myers, has launched “Who Decides,” a $30 million organization designed to build a unified AI safety agenda for the Democratic Party ahead of the 2028 presidential election. The effort formally kicked off on September 15, 2026.
From Albany to the national stage #
Before entering politics, Bores worked as a data scientist at Palantir. His signature legislative achievement was co-sponsoring New York’s RAISE Act, signed into law in December 2025. The bill requires AI developers to publish safety plans and report incidents, earning it a reputation as the strictest state-level AI safety law in the country.
Bores ran in the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary for New York’s 12th congressional district, making AI regulation the centerpiece of his campaign. He lost to Micah Lasher.
The 11-state strategy #
Who Decides has identified 11 strategically selected states where it plans to build coalitions: South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, Virginia, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The organization plans to work with labor unions, civil rights organizations, and other advocacy groups to develop policy positions. It also plans to conduct ongoing polling and host national conferences to refine its positions. The end goal is for Democratic candidates at every level to have access to a ready-made, polling-tested AI safety platform by the 2028 campaign season.
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Why $30 million, and why now #
Thirty million dollars is a serious sum for policy development, roughly equivalent to what a competitive Senate campaign might spend in a medium-sized state. Democrats have struggled to articulate a coherent position on AI, with some favoring aggressive regulation and others preferring a lighter touch that preserves American competitiveness. Tech companies have also poured resources into lobbying efforts at both the state and federal level, often successfully weakening or stalling proposed regulations.
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