Detroit News: James has given “somewhat conflicting answers on how he would handle new data center projects”

James’ running mate doesn’t even know if he supports a moratorium

LANSING — Trump-backed John James has proven that he can’t be trusted on data centers—with James voting 4 different times to block state and local governments from regulating data centers, and on the campaign trail, giving  conflicting answers on how he would handle data center projects in Michigan. It comes as James is being funded by data center developers and he voted to give tax breaks to AI companies. 

“John James cast four different votes to rip away local control of data centers, he voted in Congress to give tax breaks to data center operators, and James and his campaign can’t say whether he supports a moratorium,” said Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Derrick Honeyman. “John James has proven that he can’t be trusted to protect Michigan communities and that he’s only looking out for himself. Jocelyn Benson will put a moratorium on data centers until guardrails are in place to protect our communities, end their tax breaks, and put local voices first.”

Background:

• James Voted Four Times Against Local Control: Michigan Advance reported how James voted four different items to ban local control of data centers—and his campaign didn’t answer questions on his votes. If James’ local control ban had passed, state and local governments would not have been able to limit, restrict, or regulate AI and data centers for 10 years. The National Conference of State Legislatures even sent a letter to James urging him and other committee members to not pass the local control ban—but James still voted for it. 

• James Voted to Give AI Companies A Tax Break: James voted for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which gave tax breaks to AI companies to build data centers. 

• James’ Running Mate Proved They Can’t Be Trusted on Data Centers: James’ own running mate, Jay DeBoyer, was caught on audio saying that he “didn’t know whether his running mate, gubernatorial nominee John James, had a position on a data center moratorium.” DeBoyer’s comments come as James has given “somewhat conflicting answers on how he would handle new data center projects” in recent weeks, with his campaign saying he supports a moratorium but James himself often stopping short of endorsing one. 

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