Trump backs data centers. Where does Arizona GOP candidate Jay Feely stand?
Republican congressional candidate Jay Feely, backed by former President Trump, supports data center development, arguing it is essential for U.S. competitiveness. His stance clashes with Arizona voters and his Democratic opponent, Amish Shah, who express significant concerns over water shortages, rising utility costs, and environmental impacts within the state's 1st Congressional District. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has also called for a halt to data centers, citing their contribution to higher utility expenses.
Jay Feely, the Republican nominee for Arizona's 1st Congressional District, aligns with former President Donald Trump in supporting data center development, arguing it's crucial for the U.S. to compete with China in the AI sector. Feely, who received significant funding from a pro-AI Super PAC, believes data centers can benefit Arizona if developers invest locally and use recirculated water.
However, his stance faces significant pushback within Arizona. Democratic nominee Amish Shah and his campaign manager, Eve Zhurbinskiy, explicitly oppose data centers in the 1st Congressional District, citing severe water shortages due to a 30-year drought and concerns over rising utility costs for Arizona families. Former primary opponent Joe Chaplik also stated that people in the district do not want data centers near their homes.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has actively called for a halt on data centers, linking them to escalating utility costs and opposing rate-hike requests from Arizona Public Service Co. and Tucson Electric Power Co., which she attributes partly to data center infrastructure demands. Environmental experts and a preliminary Arizona State University study also highlight concerns about increased local temperatures and the ecological impact of even reclaimed water usage by data centers. The debate over data centers has become a "sleeper issue" for the current election cycle, with national Republicans privately warning that a pro-data center stance could alienate voters.