Data centers become flashpoint in gubernatorial races 

Political backlash to data centers is putting gubernatorial candidates in the hot seat as the presence of the massive AI infrastructure becomes a flashpoint in races up and down the ballot. 

Incumbent governors and hopeful challengers are  are forced to wrestle with Americans’ growing concerns around AI, along with concerns about energy prices and land use driven by data center construction.

Data centers, the sprawling buildings that can be used to power AI models and systems along with other technologies, are one of the only tangible signs of AI’s rapid development. 

“Could you invent an easier political target if you tried?” said Sam Silverman, founder of the Silverman Strategy Group, which focuses on the intersection of technology and politics. “Absent gigantic changes in strategy, this only gets worse,” Silverman said.

“I’m generally a techo-optimist, and I’d advise anyone actively campaigning as pro-data center in their community that it’s electoral malpractice,” Silverman, who most recently worked for Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), told The Hill Friday. 

The debate over data centers is heating up in the states, where lawmakers are rallying behind state moratoria or stricter regulations meant to address  the environmental and economic impact of data centers.. 

Candidates are latching onto this momentum — or backtracking on their previous support for AI infrastructure —, to win over voters. 

Silverman said gubernatorial races are “ where the rubber is first meeting the road on a lot of these policies.” 

The race for Pennsylvania governor highlights these new dynamics, where incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) is facing a challenge from Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R).  

Shapiro, a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has embraced a more cautious approach to data centers since welcoming a new Amazon data center project to the state last year. 

Shapiro unveiled a framework for data center guardrails in May, called the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) initiative. 

The measure, passed by the Pennsylvania House last month, requires data center developers to pay for their own power generation to avoid consumers taking on the costs, and to be transparent with the community about their plans. 

It also calls for data centers to work with municipalities to enter into community benefit agreements that ensure a certain number of new jobs, and commit to environmental protection measures. 

Shapiro campaign spokesperson Manuel Bonder said the framework, which still........

© The Hill