# Alex Bores launches Who Decides to push AI safety into 2028 Democratic platform

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-11-03T08:40:02Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/alex-bores-launches-who-decides-to-push-ai-safety-into-2028-democratic

## Summary

Alex Bores, the New York state lawmaker who lost his congressional primary in June, is launching Who Decides, an advocacy organization aimed at making AI safety a standard Democratic position by the 2028 presidential election. The group has raised $10 million at launch with planned commitments of another $20 million. Bores, who previously sponsored New York’s RAISE Act requiring AI safety disclosures, seeks to organize grassroots support in early-primary and swing states to pressure candidates to adopt specific AI oversight policies.

The initiative emerges from a contentious political landscape where AI regulation has become a major flashpoint. Bores’s previous campaign was targeted by Leading the Future, a super-PAC backed by OpenAI executives, which spent roughly $8 million to defeat him. Conversely, pro-regulation groups poured $18 million into the race to support him. Now, Bores aims to position AI safety as a non-negotiable party stance, similar to marriage equality, rather than a divisive issue like Medicare for All.

Critics, including Josh Vlasto of Leading the Future, argue that Bores is a proxy for tech executives who benefit from fear-mongering about AI risks. Meanwhile, other Democrats debate the appropriate tone, with some urging a more aggressive anti-tech stance to match voter anger, while others, like crypto billionaire Chris Larsen, warn against simplistic approaches. Bores advocates for a balanced approach focusing on independent audits and transparency, seeking to bridge the gap between tech donors and grassroots voters concerned about job displacement and corporate power.

## Key points

- Who Decides raised $10 million at launch with $20 million in planned commitments to influence 2028 Democrats.
- Bores aims to make AI safety a standard Democratic position, comparable to marriage equality or being pro-choice.
- Leading the Future spent $8 million to defeat Bores, while pro-regulation groups contributed $18 million to his race.

## Why it matters

This effort signals that AI regulation is becoming a central political issue for the 2028 cycle. By organizing grassroots support, Who Decides seeks to force candidates to take definitive stances on AI safety, potentially shaping federal policy and the balance of power between tech companies and regulators.

## Sources

1. [How Alex Bores' Who Decides seeks to make AI safety a standard Democratic position, like being pro-choice, in 2028, as tech-funded rivals vie for influence](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/alex-bores-who-decides-pac-ai-2028-democratic-presidential-primary.html) (nymag.com, 2026-11-03)

Part of the developing story: [AI Industry Super PACs Shape Political Landscape](https://digestai.news/thread/ai-super-pacs-pour-close-to-one-million-dollars-into-mike-roundss-dakota-senate) (6 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Alex Bores launches Who Decides to push AI safety into 2028 Democratic platform", 3 November 2026, https://digestai.news/story/alex-bores-launches-who-decides-to-push-ai-safety-into-2028-democratic

---

Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record. Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse
JSON: https://digestai.news/story/alex-bores-launches-who-decides-to-push-ai-safety-into-2028-democratic.json