Fact check: Where do Kansas governor candidates stand on data center regulation?
The 2026 Kansas governor's race features a prominent debate over data center regulation between Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher. Holscher advocates for a statewide moratorium on new data centers due to environmental and ratepayer concerns, while Masterson opposes it, citing existing protections and local control. Both candidates previously voted for a 20-year sales tax exemption for data center developers.
The regulation of hyperscale data centers has become a key issue in the 2026 Kansas governor's race, with Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher adopting distinct positions.
Holscher, an Overland Park state senator, has proposed a statewide moratorium on new data center developments. Her stance has evolved based on voter concerns regarding high water usage, potential contamination, human health impacts from 24/7 energy operations, and the strain on the state's water supply. She advocates for additional guardrails beyond existing energy usage regulations and supports a state law requiring data centers to use closed-loop cooling systems. Her campaign also points out that existing large-load energy tariffs do not fully account for ratepayers supporting the construction of new Evergy power plants needed for data center energy demands.
Masterson, the state Senate president from Andover, opposes a statewide moratorium. He contends that current Kansas rules, including those adopted in 2025 and enforced by the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), already protect utility ratepayers by requiring developers to sign long-term power purchase agreements and pay large-load energy tariffs. Masterson emphasizes the importance of local communities making final decisions on data center projects and highlights the economic benefits, citing a Google data center project in Barber County that is expected to reduce local property taxes.