When POLITICO reported recently how data centers had become a common battleground in congressional races throughout the U.S., Oklahoma’s political campaigns in recent weeks were a shining example of what the political news site explored.
Oklahomans were blasted with campaign ads for and against candidates who either favored data centers or those who opposed them. In some cases, supporters of data centers were nearly silent about their support.
While the $4 billion aluminum smelter proposed in Inola isn’t a data center, it would have the same kind of impact on the community—a large demand for electrical power and the prospects of increased electrical rates, heavy use of water, and impacts on the environment.
One classic political fight was between Republican gubernatorial hopefuls, Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former State Sen. Mike Mazzei. President Trump threw his endorsement for Mazzei and it led to Drummond accusing Mazzei of flip flopping on the issue. He charged Mazzei first opposed the project then changed his mind in order to get the presidential endorsement.
On the other side, as Attorney General, Drummond went to court in a recent bid to stop the project, contending it would be harmful to the environment.
POLITICO reported that because of the 200 data center impacts around the country, it led to confusion, saying, “neither party knows how to handle their political fallout heading into the midterms.”
Just as we have reported on the complaints of opponents, the political website said much the same.
“The energy-hungry computing infrastructure being built to meet the explosive demand for artificial intelligence has sparked opposition to rising electric bills, water consumption, use of farmland and influence of the tech industry. That stew of frustration has made data centers the target of campaign ads and a populist fervor that’s toppled local elected leaders.”
Of the 200 congressional districts where there are data center battles, the majority, 40 out of 69, have data centers planned or under construction as revealed by Data Center Map, one of the most comprehensive trackers of the industry.
Interviews and statements gathered by POLITICO from more than 20 congressional candidates, political strategists and activists make clear that while individual campaigns are trying to shape their positions, broader party messaging is essentially nonexistent. “There’s not one big national message on this specific thing,” said one Democratic strategist working on congressional races, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. “But in certain districts, data centers are going to be a major, major player.”
But the data center fights won’t come to an end just because Tuesday was election day in Oklahoma. And POLITICO suggested they will be long-term struggles. From Virginia to the heart of the Midwest, they fights will continue and will most certainly spill over into politics.
“Even though Republicans represent most of those competitive districts, data centers are shaping up to be a yearslong political slog for both parties. Some 1,500 of them are planned or being built in 232 congressional districts, with a nearly even partisan split. But interviews with and statements from more than 20 congressional candidates, political strategists and activists make clear that while individual campaigns are trying to shape their positions, broader party messaging is essentially nonexistent.”
Lawmakers are taking scattershot approaches that range from opposing data centers altogether to embracing them in the name of economic development and national security. Some are eschewing the issue as a local matter, even as both the White House and Congress grapple with how to regulate the data center buildout, reported POLITICO.
