The debate over data centers has become a central issue in the Kansas gubernatorial race, affecting candidates from both parties.
Candidates are exploiting this issue to undermine their opponents as Tuesday’s primaries approach, employing attack ads, dark money, and accusations of inconsistency. Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher and Republican state Sen. Ty Masterson, leading candidates in their parties, are facing significant criticism.
Republican businessman Philip Sarnecki has invested over $300,000 in ads criticizing Masterson for supporting a bill last year that expanded data center construction and offered 20-year tax breaks to developers, suggesting he is aligned with big tech interests.
On the Democratic front, Holscher also voted for the same bill but has since adopted a populist stance, advocating for a moratorium on data centers. This move appeals to her grassroots supporters, strengthening her position. However, her opponents are labeling her a flip-flopper, with social media ads from anonymous sources highlighting her previous support for data centers. She faces competition from state Sen. Ethan Corson, endorsed by Gov. Laura Kelly, and Overland Park Mayor Kurt Skoog.
This conflict reveals the complexity and divisiveness of data center politics, as both parties struggle to find a winning stance amid growing public opposition. A July POLITICO Poll indicates a growing negative sentiment towards data centers among Americans, particularly Democrats, but spanning across party lines.
Candidates from both parties are leveraging this opposition to gain an advantage in the crowded primaries, creating an unusual moment of bipartisan strategy.
Kansas, with nearly 40 data centers and numerous pending proposals, has seen local opposition to the industry energizing city council meetings from Wichita to Kansas City. Some towns, such as Topeka, have enacted one-year moratoriums to allow time for further study of the proposals.
As the state’s key race heats up, Democrats aim to retain the governor’s office after eight years under Kelly, while Republicans are optimistic about reclaiming the seat in a state that supported President Donald Trump by 16 points in 2024.
“It’s bleeding across both primaries and it’s blurring traditional party stances,” commented Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University in Topeka, noting the rapid shifts in politics reflect a growing “fear around AI.”
The Kansas primaries on Tuesday will reveal party bases’ views on data centers, indicating whether voters prefer a leader taking a firm stance against new developments or one adopting a moderate approach to increase tax revenue.
Both Masterson and Holscher’s campaigns are skeptical about the effectiveness of the attack ads.
“It’s a very kind of kitchen sink approach here at the end,” a Masterson campaign adviser said, speaking anonymously. The aide suggested the attacks haven’t been effective against the state Senate president, who is endorsed by Trump in a state he carried three times.
Holscher, expressing regret over her previous vote, stated her new stance aligns with the current sentiment across the state: “This is a unifying issue in terms of where people are on it, urban and rural as well as young and old,” she said. “I’m the only Democrat in this race to call for a moratorium on data centers because we have to get these guardrails in place. We are having our people and our resources exploited.”
The legislation passed in 2025, which Holscher and Masterson supported, led to a surge in data center construction and opposition, gaining bipartisan backing and being signed by Kelly, a pro-business Democrat.
Masterson advocates for local communities to decide on infrastructure, saying, “folks build here on our terms, or they don’t build here.” He supports a Kansas version of the White House’s position on data centers — a voluntary policy to prevent utility bill increases.
However, some Republican opponents, including Sarnecki and Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, advocate for a hardline stance with a complete moratorium.
The Kansas Comeback PAC, associated with Sarnecki, has criticized Masterson’s support for the 2025 bill. “After 20 years in politics, Ty Masterson has mastered the game,” the Kansas Comeback PAC’s TV ad claims, accusing him of rewarding big tech with tax breaks.
Within the Democratic race, the lack of extensive public polling makes it hard to identify a frontrunner. Holscher’s supporters frame the election as a choice between a populist advocate and a safe establishment figure, believing she will benefit from a national trend favoring left-wing candidates in states like Colorado, New York, and Michigan. A June survey, conducted before campaign ads aired, showed Holscher leading by 27 points.
Corson, backed by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Lt. Gov. David Toland, has supporters who believe he can attract cross-party support to win the general election in conservative Kansas. Kelly appeared in a TV ad supporting him, which began airing in major markets last week.
While Holscher now seeks to halt construction to allow time for regulation development, Corson supports continued data center development with measures to control energy costs and water usage.
“Cindy seems to think that we should just go along with her flip-flopping and not making up her mind and doing what’s politically convenient for her race, and that’s not what we’re going to do,” said Ty Dragoo, chair of the Working Kansas Alliance, representing over 23 unions. Corson has secured endorsements from labor unions within Dragoo’s group.
“Our north star is to get jobs, to get high-paying jobs, and to get sustaining jobs, and we’re not going to deviate from that.”
Holscher’s experience conducting town halls across the state, including in conservative areas, has made her aware of the strong opposition to developments, due to concerns over health and environmental impacts like water usage.
“She’s been listening, and people just want to be heard,” said Democratic state Rep. Linda Featherston, a Holscher supporter. “You have to be out amongst the people listening to what they have to say and not just brushing them off.”
However, Holscher’s push for a moratorium has distanced her from some county, state, and labor leaders who view data centers as an economic opportunity for the state. Corson promotes a local-first strategy, allowing communities to decide on welcoming the industry, while implementing statewide regulations to manage energy costs, minimize water consumption, and reduce the tax burden on nearby residents.
“Ultimately, these decisions should be made by communities, not by politicians in Topeka,” Corson stated. “I believe some communities will look at a potential project and decide to move forward, and when they do, my Department of Commerce will work side-by-side with them to make it as beneficial for the community as possible. But other communities will decide that a data center is not a good fit, and as governor, I will absolutely respect that decision.”
Corson’s financial resources also position him well against likely opponent Masterson, who will have the support of the national GOP’s financial resources. The Republican Governors Association has already booked nearly $7 million in TV ad slots in major Kansas markets, starting immediately after the primary.
