Marquette Poll Shows Wisconsin Voters Overwhelmingly Favor Data Center Moratorium

A recent poll conducted by Marquette University Law School between August 12 and August 20 revealed significant voter sentiment in Wisconsin regarding data center development. The poll found that two-thirds of Wisconsin voters, approximately 67%, favor a moratorium on data center construction for at least one year, indicating widespread opposition across independent and Democratic voters, with Republicans nearly evenly split. Voters generally view data centers as having more cons than pros, solidifying their unpopularity ahead of the November 3 election.

The poll's findings are impacting the state's gubernatorial race between Democratic candidate Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Republican U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany. While candidate Francesca Hong ran on a pro-moratorium platform during the primary, Crowley has not embraced the policy, and Tiffany has publicly criticized Crowley on the issue. However, the poll highlights a potential vulnerability for Tiffany, who has accepted political donations from a data center lobbyist, contrasting with Crowley's acceptance of funds from labor unions involved in data center construction.

Despite the strong public sentiment, neither leading gubernatorial candidate has fully aligned with the call for a moratorium. The issue remains a prominent "outlier" in the poll, suggesting that candidates who appear "pro data center" may face an electoral disadvantage. The Marquette poll also provided insights into the favorability and ideological perceptions of the candidates, with Crowley leading among likely independent voters and holding a net positive favorability rating.