Data Centers Fuel Wisconsin 3rd District Election Fight
Data center development has become a central issue in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District election, with candidates attacking each other over industry ties and policies. This political debate mirrors strong local opposition, notably in Menomonie, where a $1.6 billion data center project was blocked by the city council following public outcry. Nationwide, governments are reconsidering tax incentives for data centers amid growing public scrutiny.
Data center development has emerged as a significant and unexpected issue in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District election, where Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden and Democrat Rebecca Cooke are actively campaigning on their stances regarding the industry. Both candidates, supported by outside spending groups like the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC, have launched ads to criticize their opponent for either supporting pro-data-center policies and tax breaks or accepting industry campaign contributions. This debate reflects growing voter opposition, impacting the November elections.
The broader public concern over data centers is exemplified by events in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where a proposed $1.6 billion hyperscale data center on 320 acres of farmland was halted. Mayor Randy Knaack announced on September 22, 2025, that the city would not proceed with a development agreement for the project, citing strong community opposition led by the "Stop the Menomonie Data Center" Facebook group, which amassed over 10,000 members. Following this decision, the Menomonie City Council implemented additional regulations for data center development.
This local victory in Menomonie has become a case study for a statewide debate, with Wisconsin currently facing over $57 billion in proposed data center projects. The opposition movement is also gaining national traction, described by NPR as a grassroots effort, with roughly two-thirds of Americans reportedly opposing new data center construction in their communities. Nationwide, some governments are re-evaluating incentives, as seen in Ohio, where Republican Gov. Mike DeWine paused new sales-tax exemption applications after the cost for data centers ballooned to over $1.5 billion, prompting voter backlash. Major companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google could face the loss of these long-standing tax breaks as the industry continues to draw scrutiny.