Against Data Centers? The Working Families Party Encourages You to Enter Politics

The Working Families Party announced on Thursday a targeted recruitment effort for individuals who are mobilizing against data centers in their neighborhoods to consider running for office.

This announcement arises during a period of increased political activity surrounding data centers, as several prominent Democrats engage in the debate. Earlier this week, three Senate Democrats sent out letters requesting information from major tech companies regarding the effects of data centers on electricity costs. Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, became the first national figure to advocate for a moratorium on data center construction.

“We see our role as addressing the concerns of working families and working individuals, particularly the issues that keep them awake at night,” says Ravi Mangla, the national press secretary for the Working Families Party. “We neglect our constituents if we don’t address the challenges posed by data centers and their effects on communities.”

Founded in New York in the late 1990s, the Working Families Party has expanded with chapters in various states across the U.S. While it predominantly does not field candidates directly, the progressive third party’s endorsements and grassroots organizing can significantly influence races they choose to enter. This year, it endorsed Zohran Mamdani in New York’s mayoral election, along with several other successful candidates.

Opposition to data centers has surged in many parts of the country over the last year as tech companies increase their investment in constructing numerous facilities. A poll by the outlet Heatmap released in September revealed that fewer than half of Americans across the political spectrum would support the establishment of a data center near their homes. Additionally, a recent survey from a private industry group indicated that community resistance grew in the second quarter of this year, successfully delaying or halting billions of dollars in data center projects.

In numerous regions, issues of affordability—including rising electricity costs—are becoming intertwined with concerns regarding data centers, such as potential climate and water impacts or even noise pollution. The controversy surrounding data centers influenced several midterm elections, notably affecting numerous races in Virginia, which houses the highest number of data centers in the country and faces increasing energy demands from additional facilities expected to come online by the end of the decade. The political impact of data centers has extended beyond the midterms and beyond Virginia. Recently, officials in Chandler, Arizona, voted 7-0 against a proposed data center in the city, despite significant lobbying efforts from former senator Kyrsten Sinema. Likewise, voters in Georgia elected a newcomer to the state legislature on Tuesday who has pledged to introduce legislation that ensures data centers “pay their fair share.”

Mangla mentions that the Working Families Party launched the recruitment initiative in response to the dynamics observed in Virginia’s elections and the strong local pushback occurring nationwide. “Filling a community center or town hall doesn’t just happen spontaneously,” he states. “There are individuals actively stepping up in their communities, organizing their neighbors, and leading efforts to oppose these data centers.”