Micah Lasher won the eight-way Democratic primary to represent New York’s 12th Congressional District on Tuesday, outpacing the crowded field in a race that saw the giants of the artificial intelligence industry spend tens of millions of dollars trying to influence the outcome.
Lasher’s victory over Assemblymember Alex Bores, Kennedy family scion Jack Schlossberg and a handful of other candidates puts him in a position to represent one of the nation’s most-sought-after districts, which includes all of Midtown Manhattan and the Upper East and Upper West sides.
The Associated Press called the race for Lasher just after 10 p.m.
Flanked by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Lasher told a crowd of supporters at Jacob’s Pickles that he was committed to showing “Democrats have bold new ideas to improve the lives of struggling Americans and then deliver on them.”
The race drew more than $39 million in spending from outside interests, according to Federal Election Commission records. That includes $10 million from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who funded a super PAC supporting Lasher, his former aide.
But the bulk of the outside spending — more than $20 million — came from PACs funded by AI executives, fueling a barrage of glossy mailers and advertisements aimed at propping up or tearing down Bores, who passed a regulatory bill in Albany last year that split the industry.
With the win, Lasher sets himself up to succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Democrat who has represented the Upper West Side in Congress for more than three decades.
"I think he is the most knowledgeable on policy. I think he's very realistic and pragmatic. And I trust that he'll be the most effective of the choices," said Tara Innes, a resident of Stuy Town and Lasher campaign volunteer.
Lasher was an aide to Nadler, who has been a longtime foe of President Donald Trump and served as the top-ranking Democrat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee.
The 12th District primary was one of a handful of contested congressional primaries across New York City.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who resides in the district at Gracie Mansion, declined to endorse any of the candidates or reveal whom he voted for. That was in contrast to three other House primaries, where he backed progressive candidates courting the left flank of the Democratic Party.
Mamdani’s political bet paid off. As of Tuesday night, two of his endorsed candidates — Brad Lander and Claire Valdez — won. His third, Darializa Avila Chevalier, was in a tight race with Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
Lasher will compete with Republican Caroline Shinkle, an attorney from Midtown, in the Nov. 3 general election.
But Shinkle faces an uphill battle. The 12th District has more than six times as many Democrats as Republicans, according to the state Board of Elections.
Shinkle’s campaign has about $74,000 on hand, according to the Federal Election Commission.
