Election 2026: AI data center takeaways from Michigan governor’s debate
A Michigan gubernatorial debate highlighted disagreements over data center policy. Republican John James opposed an outright statewide moratorium and favored local control with regulations, while Democrat Jocelyn Benson called for moratoriums until officials better understand the impacts.
Data centers emerged as a major point of disagreement between Michigan gubernatorial candidates John James and Jocelyn Benson during a debate in Grand Rapids. James said he opposed an outright moratorium and argued that local communities should decide whether to host data centers, subject to appropriate regulations. Benson advocated moratoriums while the state evaluates the issue.
The debate also revisited questions about Benson’s husband, Ryan Friedrich, who was involved with a company that supplied or worked with OpenAI in connection with a data center in Saline. James and reporters questioned the timing of Benson’s support for a moratorium and whether her family benefited from the project. Benson cited public disclosures and denied that her position was influenced by her husband’s involvement; the report said no disclosure indicated that her family received a major payout.