US Rep. Ryan Mackenzie's Stance on Data Center Regulation Questioned in Reelection Campaign
US Rep. Ryan Mackenzie is facing scrutiny over his shifting stances on data center regulations and tax breaks while campaigning for re-election in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. He previously supported tax exemptions and a federal moratorium but now advocates for local control and ensuring data centers pay their fair share. The article also touches on his opponent's position and investments, highlighting data centers as a key issue in the upcoming midterm elections.
US Representative Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) is facing scrutiny over his evolving positions on data center development as he campaigns for reelection in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley against former firefighter Bob Brooks (D). Mackenzie, who is now advocating for data centers to "pay their fair share" and for local control over development, previously voted for state sales tax exemptions for data centers and supported an early version of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" that included a 10-year moratorium on state and local regulation of AI data centers. The sales tax exemption is projected to cost Pennsylvania nearly $2 billion by 2031, and the moratorium was later stripped from the federal bill by the US Senate after opposition from 40 attorneys general.
Mackenzie's campaign recently posted a graphic and a video of him speaking on the US House floor in support of the Ratepayer Protection Act, which aims to ensure large energy consumers contribute to infrastructure costs and maintain local development control. However, critics point to his past votes supporting data center tax breaks and a federal moratorium on local regulation, contrasting with his current stance.
Brooks, Mackenzie's opponent, is also under fire from the Mackenzie campaign, which accused him of flip-flopping on data center regulations and profiting from tech stocks, though specific evidence was not provided. Brooks and his wife do own stocks in tech companies like Amazon. His campaign, however, has expressed support for Governor Josh Shapiro's executive order to curb data center development and advocates for local authority in data center matters. A spokesperson for Mackenzie's campaign declined to comment on Mackenzie's record, instead highlighting Brooks's past support for data center development.
The debate highlights data center development as a significant issue for voters in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, prompting lawmakers to re-evaluate their positions.