Bernie Sanders, the influential independent US senator from Vermont, has thrown his support behind Will Lawrence, a prominent environmental organizer, in the Democratic primary for Michigan's seventh congressional district. Lawrence, co-founder of the youth-led Sunrise Movement climate justice group, is running on a platform that includes a nationwide moratorium on data centers. He's been a key figure in the fight against climate change, having played a crucial role in the campaign for a Green New Deal to battle economic and racial injustice while also addressing the climate crisis.
He's also been endorsed by progressive Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. The seventh district, which covers a southern-central swath of Michigan, including the state's capital, Lansing, has been labeled a 'toss-up' by the Cook Political Report ahead of November's midterm elections. This district has voted for Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 US presidential elections. It's also elected Republican Tom Barrett to Congress in 2024. However, Lawrence has been shown as the primary frontrunner by some polls.
Sanders praises Lawrence as an 'accomplished organizer' who will 'demand real accountability for big tech and AI companies' as massive data centers are constructed across the US. Sanders said, 'Will is running an energizing, people-powered campaign and building a strong grassroots coalition that is prepared to stand up to Big Money interests.' He added, 'Will is exactly the kind of leader we need in Congress, and I'm proud to support his campaign.' Lawrence has a strong campaign, and it's clear he's got a lot of support.
Lawrence has endorsed Sanders's call for a national moratorium on AI data centers until lawmakers develop stringent regulations. In his district, he has stood alongside residents in his hometown, Lansing, and elsewhere to rally against proposals for three hyperscaler-size AI data centers. Another proposed data center was recently struck down by Lansing's city council. The city council's decision is a big win for Lawrence and the residents who don't want these data centers.
The problems with data centers are numerous, according to Lawrence. They fuel AI, which threatens many American jobs. They consume water, and they can push up utility bills due to their massive electricity needs. An overwhelming majority of proposed US data centers would also be powered by planet-warming gas. Lawrence said, 'It's a form of climate denial, it really is, if you think that we're going to be able to bring all this natural gas online and it's not going to have a devastating impact on Michigan's climate.' He's not afraid to speak out against the data centers and their potential harm.
Lawrence's two Democratic primary opponents, Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam, haven't backed a temporary ban on data centers. Jason Cabel Roe, consultant for Barrett's campaign, said, 'Whether a community chooses to have data centers is up to those communities. The federal government should not tell local officials what businesses they can or cannot have.' A spokesperson for Brink said she believes that 'local communities should hold the decision-making power on building data centers, with transparency and accountability from corporations and government officials.'
Maasdam, who served as Barack Obama's military aide, didn't respond to a request for comment. His campaign website says he would 'make sure Michigan families are at the forefront of the AI safety conversation, protecting kids from harmful content and keeping their data and privacy secure.' It's not clear where Maasdam stands on the issue of data centers.
While Lawrence said he had heard from Democratic and Republican Michiganders alike who are concerned about AI infrastructure expansion, some state labor unions and local officials have supported data center proposals in the region, seeking jobs and investment. He's 'sympathetic to their concerns,' he said, but feels data centers are a 'raw deal.' Lawrence said, 'These big tech billionaires want us to be desperate, they want us to have no development opportunities, except for these very massive data centers that very few people want … and that threaten employment with AI in the longer term.' He's not convinced that data centers are the answer to the region's economic problems.
Lawrence argued that too many elected Republicans and Democrats have been taking money from Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and big oil giants. Barrett has taken funding from political action committees tied to energy company DTE Energy and other private entities, Lawrence noted, accusing the Republican of doing 'nothing but follow orders from these corporate donors and from President Trump.' It's a serious accusation, and one that Lawrence isn't afraid to make.
The issue of AI is at the heart of the race to represent this tight congressional district. Lawrence said, 'Data centers put a tremendous, unprecedented and unexpected burden on the grid to increase overall demand.' He added, 'And there's just no plan to do that in a clean way.' It's a complex issue, and one that Lawrence is determined to tackle.
Bernie Sanders has endorsed Will Lawrence in the Democratic primary for Michigan's seventh congressional district. Lawrence demands a nationwide moratorium on data centers. The seventh district has been labeled a 'toss-up' by the Cook Political Report. Lawrence has been endorsed by progressive Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. The district has voted for Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 US presidential elections.
These are the key facts in the race for Michigan's seventh congressional district.