Micah Lasher Wins Record-Breaking AI-Focused Democratic Primary In New York's 12th District
Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on June 23, 2026, defeating Alex Bores and others and becoming the heavy favorite in the Manhattan seat.[1]
Lasher prevailed by roughly 39% to Bores' about 35% in a close finish.[2] The contest produced about $26.3 million in advertising, making it the second-most expensive House primary on record and a focal point of an industry fight over artificial intelligence.[2] Lasher ran with endorsements from Rep. Jerry Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and filings show Bloomberg poured millions into supporting his bid.[1]
Rep. Jerry Nadler announced on September 1, 2025, that he would not seek re-election, opening the long-held Manhattan seat and prompting a crowded race. Lasher, a former Nadler aide and state assemblyman with ties across city and state government, positioned as the establishment choice. Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy, lost in the field and said Democrats must find more frank, responsive and inspiring candidates after his defeat.[3]
Early coverage stressed Lasher's institutional backing and the prominence of the crowded primary.[1] Later reporting reframed the race as a costly proxy war over AI policy, documenting millions spent by Silicon Valley-aligned super PACs and by AI-safety groups on both sides.[2]
Official returns show Lasher with 40,106 votes (39.1%), Bores with 35,822 (35.0%) and Schlossberg with 11,036 (10.8%), out of about 102,463 ballots cast in the Democratic primary.
The mainstream summary emphasizes Lasher's institutional support and the close nature of the primary, but it downplays the significant implications of his victory speech, where he directly challenged the influence of AI companies on policy matters, asserting his independence on issues affecting families and the environment. This perspective, highlighted by social media commentary, suggests that Lasher's win was not just a reflection of establishment backing, but also a rejection of AI-driven politics in a district that values traditional liberal principles.
While the summary notes the high spending in the race, it does not fully capture the framing of the contest as a proxy war over AI regulation, where Lasher's defeat of Bores, a prominent advocate for AI legislation, illustrates a broader shift away from tech-centric candidates in favor of more experienced politicians. This shift is indicative of a growing skepticism towards political dynasties, as noted by historians who argue that voters are increasingly wary of established political families, a sentiment echoed in the defeat of Jack Schlossberg, a member of the Kennedy lineage, in this primary.[4]
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📊 Relevant Data
In the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District, Micah Lasher received 40,106 votes (39.1%), Alex Bores received 35,822 votes (35.0%), and Jack Schlossberg received 11,036 votes (10.8%), with 102,463 total votes reported.
New York Primary 2026: Live Election Results — The New York Times
📌 Key Facts
- State Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the crowded Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District on June 23, 2026, a result projected by Micah Lasher.
- New York's 12th Congressional District covers much of Manhattan — including the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown and Chelsea — and is among the nation's wealthiest and strongly Democratic districts, making the primary winner heavily favored in November.
- The full Democratic primary field included Micah Lasher, Alex Bores, George Conway, Christopher Diep, Laura Dunn, Jack Schlossberg, Nina Schwalbe and Patrick Timmins.
- The open-seat contest drew national attention because longtime Rep. Jerry Nadler — who had represented the Manhattan seat since 1992 — retired, prompting a rare, competitive primary.
- AdImpact Politics found the June 23, 2026 NY-12 Democratic primary generated about $26.3 million in advertising, making it the second-most expensive House primary on record.
- The race became an expensive proxy fight over artificial intelligence and state AI policy: Silicon Valley-backed groups and AI-safety organizations spent heavily both for and against candidates (including the super PAC Leading the Future spending more than $8 million opposing Alex Bores), and AdImpact breaks out millions spent supporting and opposing Bores and Lasher.
- Micah Lasher won with about 39% of the vote to Alex Bores' roughly 35%, a narrower margin than some earlier partial totals suggested.
- Lasher ran with endorsements from Rep. Jerry Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Federal Election Commission documents show Bloomberg personally poured millions into supporting Lasher's campaign.
- Political newcomer Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy, lost the primary and reflected on the need for Democrats to field more frank, responsive and inspiring candidates after the defeat.
📰 Source Timeline (7)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- AdImpact Politics found the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary in New York's 12th District generated $26.3 million in ad spending, making it the second-most expensive House primary on record.
- Kentucky's 4th District GOP primary between Thomas Massie and Ed Gallrein earlier in 2026 ranked first with $33.2 million in ad spending, according to AdImpact Politics.
- Micah Lasher won with 39% of the vote to Alex Bores' 35%, a narrower margin than previously reported partial totals.
- AdImpact estimates $9.3 million was spent supporting Bores and $3.6 million on attack ads against him, while $8.6 million supported Lasher and $1.6 million opposed him.
- Silicon Valley-backed super PAC Leading the Future, funded by figures including OpenAI President Greg Brockman and venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, spent more than $8 million opposing Bores' nomination, according to the Hill.
- Multiple AI safety groups spent more than $20 million backing Bores in the race, the Hill reported.
- Federal Election Commission documents show former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg personally poured millions of dollars into supporting Lasher's campaign.
- Article emphasizes that Jack Schlossberg, President John F. Kennedy's grandson and a political novice, lost the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary to Assembly Member Micah Lasher in Manhattan's open House seat.
- It details how the race became an expensive proxy fight among artificial intelligence interests, with some tech and AI companies spending heavily against candidate Alex Bores over his tech-regulation legislation and other AI firms backing him.
- The piece adds Schlossberg's election-night remarks that Democrats need more frank, responsive and inspiring candidates and that the party risks continued losses if it does not learn from signals across the country.
- It notes competing endorsements within the New York delegation: Jerry Nadler endorsed Lasher while former Rep. Carolyn Maloney backed Alex Bores.
- The article reports former Republican George Conway ran in the primary and that Donald Trump publicly mocked Conway as a 'Trump Deranged Loser' after his defeat.
- PBS/AP confirms that on June 23, 2026, state Assembly member Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary for Rep. Jerry Nadler's open Manhattan seat in a field that included Jack Schlossberg, George Conway and Alex Bores.
- The article notes that national and city establishment Democrats "celebrated" Lasher's victory as a counterpoint to Mamdani's left-wing slate and that Zohran Mamdani pointedly made no endorsement in this race.
- It highlights Jack Schlossberg's defeat as a failed attempt to extend the Kennedy family political legacy, describing how his bid to "write his own chapter in Camelot lore" fell short.
- The BBC article reports that Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, lost the Democratic primary in New York's 12th Congressional District to Assemblymember Micah Lasher on June 23, 2026.
- It notes that Schlossberg, a political newcomer and Vogue correspondent, is known for "quirky" social media posts, adding texture on a defeated candidate but not changing the core result.
- The piece confirms that conservative lawyer George Conway, a founder of the Lincoln Project, also ran in NY-12 and received only about 6% of the vote.
- The report states that Zohran Mamdani made no endorsement in the NY-12 race, distinguishing this contest from the three Mamdani-backed wins elsewhere in the city.
- Fox News confirms on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, that Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, defeating George Conway, Jack Schlossberg and Alex Bores in a crowded field.
- The article emphasizes that the race drew national attention because Nadler has represented the Manhattan seat since 1992 and his retirement created a rare open-seat contest.
- It highlights that Alex Bores' campaign became a proxy fight over state-level AI regulation after he helped push New York's RAISE Act, drawing millions in opposition spending from tech-aligned super PACs.
- The piece underlines that Lasher had backing from Nadler, Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and frames his victory as evidence that local institutional support can outweigh higher national name recognition.
- Fox notes Lasher will be heavily favored in November's general election in the solidly Democratic district covering the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown and Chelsea.
- CBS News projected on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, that State Assemblyman Micah Lasher won the crowded Democratic primary for New York's 12th Congressional District.
- The article specifies that New York's 12th District includes much of Manhattan, covering the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and Midtown, and notes it is one of the nation's wealthiest districts.
- Lasher currently represents New York State Assembly District 69, which includes Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley and parts of the Upper West Side.
- CBS notes endorsements for Lasher from Rep. Jerry Nadler, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Gov. Kathy Hochul.
- The piece lists the full Democratic primary field as Micah Lasher, Alex Bores, George Conway, Christopher Diep, Laura Dunn, Jack Schlossberg, Nina Schwalbe and Patrick Timmins.
- AdImpact data cited by CBS says approximately $26 million was spent on advertising in the NY-12 primary, making it one of the most expensive congressional primaries in the country.
- The article underscores that Tuesday's Democratic primary winner is favored in November because of the district's strong Democratic lean.