Billboards, door-knocking and voter temperature-taking: Candidates in home stretch of crowded council race defined by data center question

Billboards, door-knocking and voter temperature-taking: Candidates in home stretch of crowded council race defined by data center question

News ClipGazetteXtra·Janesville, Rock County, WI·4/3/2026

The Janesville City Council election is high-stakes, largely defined by a months-long, divisive public debate over a potential data center on the city's southside. This issue has become a central point for the seven candidates on the ballot as they engage with voters.

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Gov: Janesville City Council
The Janesville City Council election has entered its crucial final phase, with seven candidates vying for office. The campaign has been significantly shaped by a protracted and contentious debate concerning the prospective development of a data center on the city's southside. This divisive issue has become a defining characteristic of the local political race, prompting candidates to undertake extensive outreach, including billboard advertising and door-to-door campaigning, to gauge public sentiment. The high-stakes nature of the election underscores the community's intense engagement with the proposed data center project.