Congressional candidate Johnson criticizes opponent Rep. Finstad over campaign checks from data center lobbyist
Congressional candidate Jake Johnson urged Rep. Brad Finstad to return campaign donations he says are connected to Chinese-owned companies and a data center lobbyist. Johnson also called for a data center moratorium until protections for natural resources and utility ratepayers are established, while Finstad’s campaign defended his record and criticized Johnson.
Congressional candidate Jake Johnson criticized Rep. Brad Finstad during a campaign event in Winona, Minnesota, alleging that Finstad accepted a contribution from a registered lobbyist for a Chinese-owned data center company. Johnson linked the donation to Finstad’s vote for the S.P.E.E.D. Act, which critics say would accelerate data center construction, and also cited Finstad’s donations from Syngenta and votes involving Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland.
Johnson called for a moratorium on data center development until safeguards are established for natural resources and utility customers. Finstad’s campaign rejected the criticism, pointing to Johnson’s alleged ties to Gov. Tim Walz and arguing that Finstad has supported restrictions on foreign ownership of farmland, lower taxes and reduced regulatory barriers for businesses.