A state lawmaker who gained national attention for his strong stance against unregulated artificial intelligence during a failed campaign for Congress is now launching a $30 million initiative to bring together Democrats around the issue of AI regulation. New York Assemblymember Alex Bores has introduced a new organization called “Who Decides,” aimed at creating a unified Democratic approach to AI policy. According to the group’s website, which became public late Monday, the goal is to ensure that by 2028, all Democratic candidates — from presidential contenders to local officials — run on a shared AI safety agenda. The group plans to focus on 11 key states that are expected to play a major role in the 2028 presidential elections, including South Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. It will conduct regular polling, hold national conferences, and collaborate with local organizations in these states. It remains unclear what legal structure “Who Decides” will take — whether it will be a federal super PAC, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, or another type of group. The website includes a “donate” link that leads to Give Butter, a fundraising platform used by many nonprofits. The group has pledged to reject contributions from corporate donors or executives at leading AI companies. Bores, who is currently serving as a state legislator, did not immediately respond to questions about whether he personally raised funds for the group while in office. He is launching the organization with Anna Myers, his former chief of staff, as stated on the website. The launch of “Who Decides” comes at a time when AI is becoming a central political issue. Last week, a former researcher from Anthropic, a major AI company, warned that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity. This warning was followed by calls from leaders at Anthropic and OpenAI, as well as Elon Musk, for greater regulation of the industry. Politicians from both major parties are now trying to form a unified policy response to the rapid development of AI. Former President Barack Obama recently urged Democrats to prioritize AI in their agenda, while prominent party strategists have begun discussing a unified strategy. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has resisted calls for quick regulation, expressing skepticism through recent social media posts. In a statement on the “Who Decides” website, Bores said, “We don’t let five people write the laws for hundreds of millions of Americans. There is no reason to let them write the rules for AI.” This statement is likely a reference to the top executives of major AI companies. Earlier this year, Bores lost the Democratic primary for a congressional seat in Manhattan, a race that focused heavily on AI regulation. His campaign had drawn $21 million from super PACs backed by different factions within the AI industry, who spent money both supporting and opposing him. Ultimately, Democratic Assemblymember Micah Lasher won the primary and is expected to win in November. The “Who Decides” website notes that the experience from Bores’ campaign showed that addressing AI is a politically viable issue and that public interest in AI policy exists but is not yet organized into a cohesive political force. The group aims to fill that gap by building a coalition that can shape a governing consensus before AI development, economic changes, and political divisions become more entrenched.