Candidates who campaigned for increased regulation or moratoriums on data centers won several primary contests in Michigan and Kansas on Tuesday. The results highlight a growing focus on the industry's impact on local infrastructure and the environment, particularly within the Democratic Party.
The rise in data center development, driven partly by the growth of artificial intelligence, has become a central issue in various state and local races. While some candidates have embraced the facilities for their economic contributions, others have raised concerns regarding their demand on the electric grid, water usage, and land.
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic Senate primary, defeating Rep. Haley Stevens. El-Sayed’s platform, released in January, calls for protections for the electric grid and water, and he has endorsed local and state moratoriums on data centers until federal protections are established. He will face former Rep. Mike Rogers (R) in the November general election. Rogers has stated that communities should decide on development but suggests directing data center tax revenue toward property tax refunds.
Also in Michigan, William Lawrence won the Democratic primary for the 7th District. Lawrence campaigned on a platform seeking a federal moratorium on data centers and aired television advertisements focused on the issue. He defeated Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam, both of whom supported environmental protections and local control over development. Lawrence will face incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett (R) in November. In Kansas, State Sen. Cindy Holscher secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination after advocating for a statewide moratorium, while State Sen. Ty Masterson won the Republican gubernatorial primary despite criticism for supporting data center tax incentives.
The scale of this issue is reflected in the energy and water requirements of these facilities, though specific per-household utility impacts were not reported. In Michigan, El-Sayed and Lawrence are now positioned to influence policy for the state's 10 million residents. In Kansas, the gubernatorial race between Holscher and Masterson offers voters two distinct paths regarding the state’s industrial growth. A moratorium would mean that local construction jobs tied to these projects would stop, and tech companies would be forced to seek alternative locations, potentially shifting tax revenue away from these districts.
A shift toward stricter regulation could set a precedent for other states facing rapid data center expansion. While federal legislation is currently being discussed in Congress, no national moratorium is expected to pass in the current session. The immediate focus remains on the general election in November 2026, where voters will decide between candidates favoring industry expansion with tax refunds, like Rogers and Masterson, and those seeking to pause development to implement environmental and infrastructure safeguards, like El-Sayed and Holscher.