New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticizes GOP over AI data center messaging strategy

News Clip1:37Forbes Breaking News·NY·8/19/2026

Governor Kathy Hochul criticizes the Senate GOP for advising AI companies on how to market their products. She states that the government's role is to address the disruptive effects, particularly regarding power needs, of hyperscale data centers that are causing anxiety across the country. Hochul challenges companies to find less disruptive ways to meet their power demands.

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Gov: Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate GOP campaign arm, United States Senate

Governor Kathy Hochul, in response to questions from reporters, criticized the Senate GOP campaign arm for reportedly issuing advice to AI companies on how to communicate the benefits of AI and data centers to voters in an election year. Hochul, the Democratic Governor of New York, stated that it is "wildly inappropriate" and "tonedeaf" for the United States Senate to focus on telling companies how to market their products.

She emphasized that her role, and that of the government, is to address the "effects of hyperscale data centers that are causing anxiety around the country." Hochul challenged these companies to develop next-generation solutions for their power needs that do not have such disruptive impacts, particularly in areas like New York.

She concluded by reiterating that the Senate should focus on the "real needs of Americans" such as reducing costs, rather than on corporate marketing strategies.