A political action committee backed by rideshare giant Uber has spent $8 million this year promoting Governor Kathy Hochul’s contentious auto insurance agenda, raising concerns about corporate influence in state policy and the potential impact on crash victims.
Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR), the PAC supporting the governor, funneled the bulk of its spending into television and digital ads in February and March, according to Board of Elections filings. The ads, featuring actors posing as New Yorkers sharing their insurance struggles, are part of a broader lobbying campaign aimed at reshaping the state’s insurance system.
“It’s clear that this is a massive national push by Uber and industries tied to app-based vehicles,” said John Kaehny, executive director of government watchdog Reinvent Albany. “By far the bulk of the money is coming from these companies.”
Hochul’s plan would lower insurance rates by limiting the rights of crash victims. Measures include narrowing the definition of “serious injury,” capping payouts for uninsured drivers or those committing felonies, and barring damages if a driver is mostly at fault. State lawmakers recently rejected the governor’s proposals in budget discussions, siding with crash victims, street safety advocates, and the New York Trial Lawyers Association, which has been a vocal opponent. The proposal remains under consideration as budget negotiations continue.
Massive Ad Push
CAR’s $8 million political spending includes nearly $6 million on television ads, more than $2 million on digital platforms, and additional funds for polling and media production. The PAC has sponsored newsletter content in POLITICO New York Playbook and advertorials in amNY, including an AI-generated lead image.
Uber has also encouraged riders to contact lawmakers, warning that insurance-related cost increases could lead to higher fares, although the link remains unclear. Despite these efforts, the company reported record revenue of $1.8 billion in the last quarter, driven by over 200 million monthly riders.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has personally donated $48,000 to Hochul’s campaign and the state Democratic Party over the past four years, the only state political contributions listed in his name.
Actors and Ads
CAR’s video campaigns feature “real New Yorkers” discussing their auto insurance struggles, but investigations reveal most participants are professional actors. Joy Decker, Kimberly Jo, Vinny Gomez, and Andrea Robinson, all credited in the ads, have previous acting experience in commercials, TV, or film. Some declined to clarify whether they were paid for their appearances, while others emphasized they were voicing personal support for insurance reforms.
Hochul’s office declined to comment on outside advocacy groups, emphasizing the governor’s focus on reducing insurance costs while improving street safety and cracking down on fraud.
“Gov. Hochul hears constantly from New Yorkers struggling with skyrocketing car insurance costs,” said spokesperson Sean Butler. “Any suggestion that she is working on behalf of anyone other than the millions of New Yorkers who deserve more affordable coverage is absurd.”
Albany Battle Lines
The state legislature has largely sided with trial lawyers, whose influence in New York politics remains strong through donations and lobbying. Even so, CAR’s $8 million ad spending dwarfs contributions from the LawPAC of New York, which has spent less than $80,000 so far this year.
Hochul’s initiative has united significant business groups, including the Partnership for New York City and the Business Council of New York State, as well as government agencies seeking to reduce personal injury settlement costs, such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“It’s King Kong versus Godzilla,” Kaehny said, describing the showdown between powerful corporate interests and the state’s traditional legal lobby.
