HARRISBURG – It begins with a left-field line. A place for parents to watch Little League games at Ed Staback Park. In Archbald Borough, that line was also where a data center developer wanted to build. For Governor Josh Shapiro, standing there earlier this year, it became a symbol. A catalyst. It crystallized a political reality now dominating Pennsylvania’s would-be Democrats and Republicans are competing to prove who is tougher on data center developers. They are flooding campaign mailers, digital ads, and stump speeches with promises to halt, slow, or heavily regulate these massive facilities.
In a dramatic pivot, Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order demanding local approval for any new data center before state environmental review. He called some developers “predatory” and “greedy.” His Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, wants a multi-year moratorium. She labels Shapiro the “biggest data center cheerleader in the nation.”
They are not alone. A Spotlight PA analysis found the issue featuring in at least 20 competitive legislative races. Control of the state House and Senate may hinge on it.
“I don’t believe I’ve seen an issue have such a meteoric rise in saliency,” said Chris Borick, a political scientist at Lehigh University. “It’s redefining campaigns.”
The numbers explain the fervor. Pew Research Center notes over 120 proposed centers across Pennsylvania. That is among the highest totals in the country. Communities are pushing back hard. A recent Quinnipiac University Poll found nearly three-quarters of state voters oppose an AI data center in their town.
The backlash merges several potent voter concerns:
- Local control
- Water and energy use
- Rising utility rates
- The shadow of AI on future jobs
- Environmental impact
- Community growth
“You put that mix together,” Borick said. “That’s a pretty potent cocktail.”
In Pennsylvania’s 40th Senate District, the fight is pure and personal. Dozens of proposals dot the region near Scranton. Democrat Brian Wrightson, a former Red Cross emergency director, is running to ban them entirely.
“I can’t justify it,” Wrightson told Spotlight PA. He worries about fire risks in tech-packed buildings. He fears small towns cannot handle the growth. His message resonates. He says voters cite environmental and cost concerns.
His opponent, incumbent Republican Senator Rosemary Brown, now champions regulation. In February, she announced a bill package for stricter oversight. She voiced support for a moratorium in a campaign video. Wrightson was quick to note a $5,000 contribution to Brown from a data center executive. Brown’s camp fires back. They try linking Wrightson to “special interests” via union and consultant donations.
This tit-for-tat accusation is now standard. The Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee runs an ad. It claims Democrat Chris Thomas is “bankrolled” by “data center insiders.” The evidence? Thomas did consultant work for an engineering firm that once advised Amazon. Thomas denies any link to developers. His campaign calls the work “temporary” and unrelated.
A progressive group airs its own ad. It says Republican Senator Tracy Pennycuick “stood with special interests” by backing faster permits. The narrative is set. Each side paints the other as in bed with developers.
Governor Shapiro’s reversal is the most telling. He once championed a $20 billion Amazon project. He led efforts to fast-track permits. Now, he slows the process. His executive order demands binding commitments on energy and water. It requires community transparency.
Polling likely forced his hand. The same Quinnipiac survey shows only 24% of voters approve of his handling of data centers. Thirty-four percent disapprove. “He is very disciplined,” Borick said of Shapiro. “On this issue, even someone of his talents has struggled.”
The governor acknowledges the shift. “The feedback I’ve gotten… has really shaped my perspective,” Shapiro said at the signing ceremony. “Ending the secrecy is important.”
The political stakes are immense. For voters directly in a project’s path, this issue may decide their vote. In a tight race, that could be decisive. For others further away, it may not top their list. But in a state where power balances on a knife’s edge, few issues hold such concentrated power. It’s a fight over community character. It’s a battle for economic control. And in November, it might just determine who governs Pennsylvania.
| Candidate | Position on Data Centers | Related Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Shapiro | Supports regulation | Signed executive order demanding local approval |
| Stacy Garrity | Supports a moratorium | Challenging Shapiro’s approach |
| Brian Wrightson | Wants to ban data centers | Running for election against existing senators |
| Rosemary Brown | Supports regulation | Announced a bill package for stricter oversight |
| Chris Thomas | Denies ties to developers | Worked temporarily for an engineering firm |
| Tracy Pennycuick | Supported faster permits | Criticized in opposition ads |
