A Political Action Committee Targets New York Congressional Candidate Alex Bores

A political action committee with ties to major tech and crypto donors is making headlines by bringing up the disgraced ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried in an attempt to discredit New York congressional candidate Alex Bores. The Think Big PAC has distributed a strongly worded mailer accusing Bores of receiving over $100,000 in support from Bankman-Fried and his associates, insinuating that “Bankman-Fried’s buddies are bankrolling Bores for Congress.” The mailer criticizes Bores’ campaign financing and positions him as out of touch with his constituents, urging voters to “do better than Bores.”

This attack comes at a crucial time for Bores, who is competing in a highly competitive Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District. The race has attracted several prominent contenders, including Jack Schlossberg of the Kennedy family and George Conway. The primary, to succeed Rep. Jerry Nadler, is expected to be closely watched in the 2026 cycle.

Think Big PAC, which supports candidates aligned with pro-technology policies, has a history of influencing Democratic primaries, including in Ohio. The group opposes candidates seen as hostile to innovation, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.

Bores, a first-term assemblymember from Manhattan, has recently gained attention for introducing legislation focused on artificial intelligence safety and accountability at the state level. His bill aims to regulate advanced AI systems, potentially making him a target for groups like Think Big PAC.

The mailer highlights Bores’ ties to Sam Bankman-Fried, who faced fraud charges related to the collapse of FTX. In the 2022 election cycle, Bankman-Fried and other FTX executives were major political donors, supporting candidates from both parties. Bores was one of only two state-level candidates in New York to receive support from an SBF-affiliated PAC.

Think Big PAC has spent significant resources on ads targeting Bores, including television and digital spots criticizing his past work at Palantir. Bores’ campaign has pushed back against these ads, sending a cease-and-desist letter accusing the PAC of spreading false and defamatory information.

Bores’ campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.

For more information: Congress’ FTX Problem: 1 in 3 Members Got Cash From Crypto Exchange’s Bosses