From Data Center Critic to Public Office: WFP’s Bold Recruitment Plan

The Working Families Party announced Thursday it is actively recruiting individuals organizing against data centers to run for political office, signaling a growing political divide over tech infrastructure development.

Rising Opposition to Data Centers

Community resistance to data centers has surged in the past year as tech companies accelerate facility construction nationwide. Recent polling reveals less than half of Americans would welcome data centers near their homes, while industry surveys indicate increasing community opposition has successfully stalled billions in development projects.

The political impact is already evident. In Virginia, which hosts the country’s highest concentration of data centers, concerns about these facilities influenced several midterm races. Similar patterns are emerging elsewhere, with officials in Chandler, Arizona recently voting unanimously to reject a proposed data center despite lobbying from former Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

Political Landscape Shifting

The Working Families Party’s recruitment initiative targets specific regions including northern Virginia, the upper Midwest, and Southwest. “We see our role as responding to what working families and working people are concerned about,” says Ravi Mangla, the party’s national press secretary.

While the progressive third party typically endorses rather than runs independent candidates, its support carries significant weight in selected races. The recruitment effort follows the party’s observation of intense local opposition and the issue’s impact on Virginia’s elections.

Bipartisan Concerns Emerging

Data center politics are increasingly complex across party lines. Some high-profile Democrats like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro have welcomed major data center investments, while others are taking critical stances.

Three Democratic senators—Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Richard Blumenthal—recently demanded information from major tech companies about data centers’ impact on electricity costs. Senator Bernie Sanders has become the first national politician to call for a moratorium on data center construction, citing concerns about democracy and equitable distribution of technology benefits.

On the Republican side, the issue creates potential tensions with the Trump administration’s pro-AI stance. Several MAGA-aligned politicians including Senator Josh Hawley and Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie have criticized the national data center buildout. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called for limits on data centers as part of proposed AI regulation.

Community Concerns Driving Opposition

Opposition to data centers often centers on practical concerns rather than partisan politics. Rising electricity bills, environmental impacts, water usage, and noise pollution are primary motivators for local resistance.

“A lot of the opposition to these projects is led locally in rural areas,” notes Lee Francis of Virginia’s League of Conservation Voters. “There aren’t folks showing up in Birkenstocks at these public hearings. They’re local folks who have to live next to them.”

The Working Families Party emphasizes that its recruitment call is open to candidates across the political spectrum who are organizing against data centers in their communities.