Francesca Hong’s Loss in Wisconsin is a Win for AI Data Centers — for Now

Francesca Hong's narrow loss in Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary signals a setback for the data center moratorium movement, despite Hong's strong emphasis on the issue during her campaign. The primary's outcome was overshadowed by trivial distractions, such as Hong's old tweets criticizing Thanksgiving, which amplified the Fox News "War on Christmas" panic.

Hong advocated for a moratorium on new data center construction, aiming to provide time for regulations and environmental impact studies. However, her stance faced strong opposition from the winning candidate, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who called it a "short-term" solution. The anti-data center movement, however, is far from defeated, as it has gained traction in various regions, fueling the rise of progressive candidates who oppose data centers.

Hong's campaign highlighted the growing frustration among voters over data centers' environmental and economic impact, with some polling showing 70% of Americans opposing new constructions in their areas. Despite Hong's loss, the data center moratorium issue has become a defining political concern, with progressive candidates like Abdul El-Sayed, Melat Kiros, and Justin J. Pearson also advocating for stringent regulations.

The Sunrise Movement, which has backed these candidates, urges Democrats to prioritize this issue, arguing that it distinguishes the party from corporations profiting from data center expansion.