Anthropic and OpenAI-backed groups spent $27 million combined trying to influence a Manhattan congressional primary, but the race's winner, Micah Lasher, rejected both companies in his victory speech and pledged to regulate the AI industry. This is significant because it suggests that AI companies' attempt at political influence didn't secure the outcome they wanted—the victor made clear he wouldn't be beholden to either firm. Lasher is the author of New York's AI safety law, and both OpenAI and Anthropic had backed his opponent, making his victory a notable moment in corporate political spending in the emerging AI policy space.