Person
Republican U.S. Representative from Wisconsin and 2026 nominee for governor; opposes data centers but backed AI tax breaks and state AI preemption.
The build is now the largest driver of U.S. private investment growth, and 71% of Americans polled want none of it nearby, which makes entitlement risk rather than capital the thing infrastructure investors have to price.
Perspective Coverage
4 publishersReality
Six Republicans have now broken with the president in public over immigration, the Iran war and a plan to cut beef tariffs. Two of the six put the break on the record with a vote. Vox reports his approval is reaching new lows.
Reality
A New York Times poll puts 47 percent of Republicans against data center construction. The party's own strategists are telling candidates to keep their distance from the projects the president keeps defending.
Reality
Flock says its license plate readers operate in 6,000 communities in every state but Alaska, and candidates in both parties are now pledging bans, funding pauses and warrant rules, which turns a signed municipal contract into an election-year liability.
Reality
DCD finds 80 percent of Democratic and Republican candidates for governor have taken a public stance on data centers, and only four candidates anywhere back the industry outright.
Reality
Trump told operators the jobs and taxes are enormous. The Senate Republicans' own campaign arm told candidates the issue is an anchor around a sitting senator's neck.
Reality
Republicans who cheered the AI buildout are running on "guardrails" and tax-break repeal. For anyone underwriting capex against state abatements, the discount rate just moved.
Reality
Both candidates would keep approving hyperscale campuses. The contest is over who gets to say no, which moves siting risk from utility contracts to local politics.
Reality