AI data centers have become increasingly unpopular with many Wisconsin residents and will play a role in the November election to succeed Democratic Governor Tony Evers.
UW La Crosse political scientist Anthony Chergosky notes that the latest Marquette Law School poll indicates some space between the candidates for governor and voters when it comes to AI data centers.
“We saw a strong majority of registered voters say that they would support the one-year moratorium proposal that really helped Francesca Hong gain so much traction in the Democratic Party primary,” he said. “But neither Crowley nor Tiffany is calling for that type of moratorium, even though it seems many voters would be receptive to it.”
Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Exec David Crowley — an early supporter of the developments — both stress the need to protect taxpayers. Tiffany says data centers don’t belong on farmland. And both candidates say local input is critical, as more local governments around the state are enacting one year AI project moratoriums on their own.