Overview
- A five-candidate televised debate on Tuesday night at Baruch College highlighted sharp contrasts over regulation of artificial intelligence, ties to tech and crypto, and differing stances on U.S. policy toward Israel.
- Alex Bores stressed his role as an architect of New York’s RAISE Act and argued his private-sector experience equips him to regulate AI, while Micah Lasher attacked Bores’ tech ties and emphasized his long record in public service.
- Outside spending is unusually large for a Manhattan primary, with federal filings showing a Super PAC tied to Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI spending more than $10 million to oppose Bores and Bloomberg-linked groups directing roughly $7.5 million in support of Lasher.
- Nina Schwalbe drew strong positive notice for her debate performance but trails badly in fundraising and has received no major Super PAC backing, leaving her short of the resources that dominate advertising and outreach.
- The district’s heavy Jewish population has made Israel policy a persistent, practical campaign issue and the large undecided vote, combined with early voting starting June 13, means turnout and late outreach will likely decide the June 23 primary.