AI critic challenges longtime northeast Seattle state rep
Washington state Rep. Gerry Pollet and challenger Will Dreher are competing for a northeast Seattle House seat, with both discussing artificial intelligence policy. Pollet supports reviving legislation to regulate data centers and collaborating with Oregon on a data center tax, while Dreher backs a full moratorium on new data centers over environmental and AI-related concerns.
Democratic state Rep. Gerry Pollet and political newcomer Will Dreher are competing to represent northeast Seattle’s 46th Legislative District. Their campaign has focused partly on the pace of artificial intelligence regulation, with Dreher arguing that Washington lawmakers have acted too slowly and Pollet defending the state’s existing efforts.
Pollet co-sponsored legislation that would have regulated data centers and plans to reintroduce it next year. He is also working with Oregon lawmakers on a possible tax on data center operations intended to reduce electricity and water use and fund workforce retraining and renewable energy. Dreher said he would support a full moratorium on data centers because of their environmental effects and as a way to slow AI development.