The young candidates shaking up the Dem Party

June 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The young candidates shaking up the Dem Party

In New York's 12th and 13th congressional districts, two primary challengers are running campaigns that test whether the Democratic Party's left flank can translate grassroots energy into electoral wins — and whether the party establishment's caution on issues like AI regulation and immigration is driven by fear of moneyed interests rather than voter sentiment. Assemblymember Alex Bores, a former Palantir engineer who passed New York's strongest AI safety law, is facing a super PAC funded by Trump mega-donors that has made him their "number one enemy." In the neighboring district, Daria Lisa Avula Chevalier, a Democratic Socialist and public defender, is challenging ten-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat on the grounds that shared identity is not enough — shared values and a willingness to fight matter more.

The AI regulation test case

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What you'll learn

1 (02:29) **Why This Race Matters Nationally** - Alex Boris explains that Trump mega-donors targeted him to send a message: regulating AI will mean political destruction.
2 (03:17) **From Palantir to AI Regulator** - Boris describes his background at Palantir and his break with the company over ICE contracts.
3 (07:53) **The RAISE Act: New York’s AI Safety Law** - Boris explains his signature legislation and its federal ambitions.
4 (08:10) **Moratorium on AI Development?** - Boris supports Bernie Sanders’ call for a pause on data centers.
5 (09:53) **The AI Dividend: Public Stake in Frontier AI** - Boris explains his proposal for Americans to have a financial stake in AI development.
6 (13:11) **Why AI Regulation Got Watered Down** - Boris traces the political fear that led to a weakened RAISE Act.
7 (15:50) **The Window Is Now** - Boris argues that the super PAC attacking him only needs to win one or two cycles to lock in a billionaire-controlled AI future.

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Show Notes

AI, policing and generational change are among the issues influencing two primary races in New York that reflect the broader 2026 midterms.

This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon.

Voting signage at a polling location for the primary election in New York. Photo by Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

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