Michigan midterms: gas prices and AI data centers drive the race

Michigan is the site of the most expensive midterm race in the United States, and its main issues are gas prices and the construction of data centers for AI. According to Brad Laplante of the local TV station WLNS, the district is a “microcosm of the rest of Michigan”: because of its diversity, both parties see it as a laboratory whose results could be applied across the country.

Republicans are watching whether a candidate who publicly disagrees with President Donald Trump can win. Democrats want to see how a progressive candidate performs in a district where the party has no secure base of support. The Senate race between progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers is also being closely watched.

Money, ads and fuel prices

Most of the campaign money comes from organizations outside the state. That spending has gone beyond any reasonable limit is, paradoxically, one of the few things Barrett and Lawrence agree on. Many locals say with irritation that their mail and phones are swamped with political ads, even though they block new senders every day.

“Here in Michigan, we have one of the most divided electorates in the country,” Barrett says. “People are most afraid for the cost of living, the price of gas and groceries. A lot of that is tied to the ongoing war in Iran.” The congressman is one of the few Republicans publicly criticizing Trump for continuing that war without the consent of Congress. He appeals to voters with traditional promises to cut taxes and strengthen security.

The conversation takes place at the Country Mill farm in the middle of rural Michigan, where the politician is meeting supporters. Among the roughly one hundred attendees, older people and students predominate. “It matters that Tom (Barrett) votes against the war with Iran, one of the reasons for high gas prices. He has voted against it more than once. I also believe Republicans have the better plan to lower the cost of living: they want to limit housing regulation,” says Aidan Haas of Michigan State University.

Data centers prompt a united protest

Besides fuel prices, Barrett’s supporters, over cider and doughnuts, are vigorously discussing plans to build AI data centers nearby. Opposition to them is almost universal and cuts across party lines. People fear that the centers will consume huge amounts of water and electricity, make noise and lower land values. Companies are blamed for often striking deals on projects with politicians behind residents’ backs.

For Democratic candidate Lawrence, this is the central issue of the election. “I think it comes down to who will decide the future of our communities. People here are standing up against Silicon Valley and Wall Street, against those players deciding how their communities should live. And they are saying clearly: we don’t want this. We want to protect our democracy,” he says. Unlike Barrett, who wants to leave the decision to local authorities, Lawrence is calling for an indefinite federal moratorium on building all AI data centers until stricter rules are in place.

We speak shortly after he gave a short speech in the village of Holt, in the suburbs of the state capital Lansing, at a meeting where locals discussed the issue. Hundreds of people greeted him with thunderous applause, while a representative of a company that wants to build a data center nearby was ruthlessly booed by residents.

Democratic supporters also see the high cost of living as a serious problem. “People can’t afford a decent life. In neighboring districts, 67 percent of residents can’t cover basic needs. They have to choose: pay for electricity, rent, replace a car tire or buy food for their kids,” says programmer and entrepreneur Jerry Norris. He used to work in Dubai and other countries, and now, in a former church building in downtown Lansing, he runs The Fledge community center, which is at once a charity, a cultural space and a startup hub. When opponents of COVID restrictions stormed the local Capitol by force in 2020, counter-demonstrations were organized right here.

Norris makes no secret of his support for Democrats: the entrance is plastered with posters for their candidates, and Lawrence launched his campaign for a seat in Congress here. Still, he says Republican supporters are welcome too, mostly coming for the concerts. According to him, Republican Barrett has also dropped by a few times. “You know what? Say hi to him for me,” Norris says in parting, with a sly smile.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz