2026 ELECTION GRID: WHO'S ON THE RECORD ABOUT DATA CENTERS, WIND & SOLAR SITING, AND THE PSC
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3 — and data centers, wind and solar siting, and the Public Service Commission were the fights of this cycle. So we did the homework for you: we went through the entire 2026 ballot — the governor's race, all eight congressional districts, all seventeen state senate districts, and all ninety-nine assembly districts — and checked every candidate against their on-the-record statements, votes, and bill records.
That research is long. Here it is: one row per candidate, three columns: local control of wind, local control of solar, and data centers. Here's how to read it:
● Supports local control / regulation on that issue
◐ Mixed or conditional (support with standards, or a record that cuts both ways)
○ Pro-development — voted against regulation, or no regulatory stance on record
— No on-the-record statement
A dash is silence, not a position. Every mark in this grid traces to a verbatim quote, a vote, or a bill record in our research files (full quotes and sources are on our site and in the companion research issue). Where the two columns that matter are both dashes, we kept the row short — the silence is the story.
● Supports local control / regulation on that issue
◐ Mixed or conditional (support with standards, or a record that cuts both ways)
○ Pro-development — voted against regulation, or no regulatory stance on record
— No on-the-record statement
A dash is silence, not a position. Every mark traces to a verbatim quote, a vote, or a bill record in our research files.
The Governor
| Candidate | Wind | Solar | Data | The record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Tiffany (R) | ● | ● | ● | Promised to sign SB3 — "restore local control over the siting of large-scale wind and solar." Also: "Taking farmland out of production for wind turbines is 'very bad public policy.'" Data centers: "no new data centers... without strong standards," "local communities have the final say," end all subsidies. |
| David Crowley (D) | ○ | ○ | ● | Pro-wind and pro-solar development ("the best energy is the energy that we don't have to pay for... it also comes from wind") — no local-control statement on record. Data centers: "I will let communities decide for themselves whether they want a data center at all — and if they say no, that decision would be honored." Also: NDAs "have no place in these deals"; PSC "revolving door" rule. |
Congressional Races
| District | Candidate | Wind | Solar | Data | The record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WI-01 | Bryan Steil (R, I) | — | — | ○ | Backed the Racine County project in 2024; $17,000 from Microsoft since 2022; announced the $5.1B Alliant DOE loan in October. |
| WI-01 | Mitchell Berman (D) | — | — | ● | Running squarely against data centers (ad + IBEW and LCV endorsements). |
| WI-02 | Mark Pocan (D, I), unopposed | — | — | — | "We don't have as much, in fact very little to do with it at a federal level" (Wisconsin Watch). The fight in this district is on the state ballot. |
| WI-03 | Derrick Van Orden (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | "Local control with conditions" — non-negotiables: no farmland, water, or ratepayer costs; closed-loop air cooling. |
| WI-03 | Rebecca Cooke (D) | — | — | ● | Data center moratorium ad + pledge not to take corporate PAC money. |
| WI-03 | Alexander Valiensi Kent (I) / Rustin Provance (I) | — | — | — | No statements. |
| WI-04 | Gwen Moore (D, I) | — | — | ○ | No statement; one recorded vote against a data center measure. Endorsed Crowley. |
| WI-04 | Tim Rogers (R) / Arthur Burks (I) | — | — | — | No statements. |
| WI-05 | Scott Fitzgerald (R, I) | — | — | ● | Voted YES on H.R. 9340, the federal data center regulation measure (Sept. 16, 2026). |
| WI-05 | Andrew Beck (D) | — | — | ◐ | "Data center growth must serve Wisconsin workers and protect the places we call home." |
| WI-06 | Glenn Grothman (R, I) | — | — | ○ | Asked whether residents should pay data centers' energy costs: "It varies in different situations." |
| WI-06 | Brad Smith (D) | — | — | ● | "We need to get regulatory controls in place absolutely yesterday." |
| WI-06 | Elizabeth Fitzgibbon (I) / Mike Thurow (I) / Matthew Arndt (W) | — | — | — | No statements. |
| WI-07 | Michael Alfonso (R) | — | — | ○ | On building data centers: "he agrees with the President" (Trump-endorsed in the primary). |
| WI-07 | Fred Clark (D) | — | — | ◐ | "Strong public oversight of this technology" (on the record); primary debate: supported greater federal regulation, no moratorium. |
| WI-08 | Tony Wied (R, I) | ● | ● | ● | Official letter: "return power to local communities"; Act 40 op-ed — local input on wind/solar siting "has only intensified" since 2009; Senate "stopped... legislation to protect your tax dollars from footing the bill for data centers." |
| WI-08 | Rick Crosson (D) | — | — | ● | "No data centers without strict state and federal regulation... local communities ultim[ately decide]" (campaign site). |
State Senate (17 districts up)
| District | Candidate | Wind | Solar | Data | The record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD1 | Mark Becker (I) / Nic Cravillion (R) | — | — | — | No statements. |
| SD3 | Tim Carpenter (D, I), unopposed | — | — | ◐ | "Data centers and the companies developing them must pay their fair share" (campaign site). |
| SD5 | Mike Roberts (R) / Robyn Vining (D) | — | — | — | No statements. |
| SD7 | Chris Larson (D, I) | — | — | ● | "Pause to Protect" — argued for a data center pause; longtime PSC critic. |
| SD7 | Mike Moeller (R) | — | — | ◐ | "Address the impact of data centers on utility rates and infrastructure costs" (campaign site). |
| SD9 | Christian Ellis (I) | — | — | ● | "Communities should have the information and authority to decide"; no taxpayer subsidies. |
| SD9 | Amy Binsfeld (R) | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD11 | Ellen Schutt (R) | — | ● | — | Co-introduced the bill to eliminate the farmland solar tax credit — "protecting farmland from 'nonsense' renewable energy projects" (WPR). |
| SD11 | Adam Duda (D) | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD13 | John Jagler (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | Co-authoring the NDA-ban bill for data centers (Daily Dodge); also co-sponsored a 2025 TIF bill for data center incentive districts. Both real. |
| SD13 | Sasha Ripley (D) | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD15 | Mark Spreitzer (D, I) | — | — | ◐ | Ratepayer-protection bill with Rep. Anderson: "right now we have no state guardrails." |
| SD15 | Christopher Dean (SPNP) / Scott Fleming (R) | — | — | — | No statements. |
| SD17 | Howard Marklein (R, I) | ● | ● | ◐ | SB3 author (local approval for wind + solar 15 MW+); AB840 co-sponsor; on AB840: "It really didn't do much of anything to regulate data centers." "Outright opposed" to the 765kV Driftless line. |
| SD17 | Jenna Jacobson (D) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author; voted against AB840; "data centers were paying their fair share of electricity and infrastructure costs... it couldn't even get a hearing." |
| SD19 | Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R, I) / Emily Tseffos (D) | — | — | — | No statements. |
| SD21 | Jim Croft (R) | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD21 | Trevor Jung (D) | — | — | ● | "Protecting Rate Payers" platform: tax breaks "with no meaningful conditions"; no grid-cost payment; no developer disclosure. |
| SD23 | Romaine Quinn (R) | — | — | ◐ | AB840/SB843 author — the standards bill: costs not "shifted onto Wisconsin families and small businesses" (committee testimony). |
| SD23 | Jeff Foster (D) | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD25 | Erik Severson (R) | — | — | ● | "This is something that should be up to local control. If Bayfield wants to have a moratorium, they should have a moratorium." "No. 1, provide your own electricity." |
| SD25 | Charly Ray (D) | — | — | ● | Brought the Bayfield County moratorium to the agenda; "statewide support for local communities to regulate and make decisions on data centers... I'd be open to" a statewide moratorium. |
| SD27 | Dianne Hesselbein (D, I), unopposed | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD29 | Cory Tomczyk (R, I) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-author (local wind/solar approval); farmland-solar tax credit bill with Schutt. |
| SD29 | Gillian Battino (D) | — | — | ● | "Wisconsin communities deserve a real voice in where data centers are built. No one should be forced to live next door... without having a say" (campaign site). |
| SD31 | Jeff Smith (D, I) | — | — | — | Office page highlights the PSC's Feb. 2026 data center rate hearing; no position on record. |
| SD31 | Michele Magadance Skinner (R) | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD33 | Chris Kapenga (R, I) | — | — | — | No statement. |
| SD33 | Mike Van Someren (D) | — | — | ◐ | "Require data centers to pay their own way for infrastructure and energy costs" (campaign site). |
State Assembly (55 candidates with on-record positions)
| District | Candidate | Wind | Solar | Data | The record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD2 | Shae Sortwell (R, I) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor (local wind/solar approval). Also: Assembly author of the nuclear tax credit package. |
| AD3 | Ron Tusler (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD4 | David Steffen (R, I) | — | — | — | Chairs Assembly Energy; co-lead on the nuclear siting measures (outside this grid's three issues). |
| AD5 | Joy Goeben (R, I) | ● | ● | ○ | SB3 co-sponsor — but "joined Democrats voting against" AB840 (Examiner). |
| AD6 | Elijah Behnke (R, I) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor; PSC letter on NextEra pressing for local input (Times Herald). |
| AD6 | Shirley Hinze (D) | — | — | ● | "I support a moratorium on new data centers until the state has rules" (Times Herald, Oct. 9, 2026). |
| AD10 | Darrin Madison (D, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author; public on data center ratepayer protection. |
| AD11 | Sequanna Taylor (D, I) | — | — | ○ | Voted AGAINST AB840 (voting record, Jan. 20, 2026). |
| AD14 | Angelito Tenorio (D, I) | — | — | ● | On AB840: "offers nothing but lip-service... nothing but a campaign talking point" (official statement). |
| AD14 | AmyRose Murphy (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD15 | Adam Neylon (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | Testified before the PSC on data center rate structure (Feb. 10, 2026 docket). |
| AD22 | Paul Melotik (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD23 | Deb Andraca (D) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD24 | Dan Knodl (R, I) | ● | ● | ◐ | SB3 co-sponsor; op-ed: data centers must pay for their own grid connection. |
| AD27 | Lindee Brill (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD28 | Rob Kreibich (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD30 | Shannon Zimmerman (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB840 co-author; gave the bill's committee testimony. |
| AD36 | Jeffrey Mursau (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD37 | Mark Born (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | Official release supporting "responsible data center standards"; AB840 testimony. |
| AD38 | William Penterman (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD39 | Alex Dallman (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD42 | Maureen McCarville (D, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author; UW panel: no subsidies. |
| AD45 | Clinton Anderson (D, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author; "right now we have no state guardrails" (Beloit Daily News). |
| AD46 | Joan Fitzgerald (D, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD47 | Randy Udell (D, I) | — | — | ● | Official statement: the GOP bill "would nonsensically restrict data centers from using renewable energy... our united opposition and Governor Evers' veto prevented these policies." |
| AD48 | Andrew Hysell (D, I) | — | — | ● | With Rep. Johnson: more PSC review authority; statewide AI data center rules. |
| AD49 | Travis Tranel (R, I) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor; committee testimony for local wind/solar approval. |
| AD50 | Jon Aleckson (R) | — | — | ● | "Strict state laws... data centers must pay for all their energy and water. Closed-loop recycling of water. Strict noise limits." |
| AD51 | Todd Novak (R, I) | — | — | ● | Data center siting "is a local-control issue, not a state-approval issue." |
| AD54 | Lori Palmeri (D) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD63 | Robert Wittke (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | Development "with the right standards" (APG). |
| AD65 | Ben DeSmidt (R) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD66 | Greta Neubauer (D, I), minority leader | — | — | ● | Spoke on data center NDA bills (Examiner, Jan. 20, 2026). |
| AD67 | David Armstrong (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB840 co-sponsor; "Armstrong, Quinn back regulations" (APG). |
| AD69 | Karen Hurd (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD71 | Vinnie Miresse (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD72 | Scott Krug (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor; committee testimony for local wind/solar approval. |
| AD73 | Angela Stroud (D, I) | — | — | ● | AB722 lead author; Eau Claire data center roundtable; on AB840: "they just barreled through." |
| AD77 | Renuka Mayadev (D) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD80 | Mike Bare (D) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD83 | Dave Maxey (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD84 | Chuck Wichgers (R, I) | — | — | ● | SB969 — targets NDAs in data center deals (2025 legislative record). |
| AD85 | Patrick Snyder (R) | — | — | ◐ | "The Assembly has addressed regulating data centers... we will need to make sure there is state oversight" (town hall). |
| AD86 | John Spiros (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
| AD87 | Brent Jacobson (R) | — | — | ◐ | AB840 co-sponsor. |
| AD88 | Brandy Tollefson (R, I) | — | — | ● | Ad: "Data centers are destroying communities all over the country and they're raising utility rates." |
| AD91 | Jodi Emerson (D, I) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author; voted FOR AB840 (Examiner); led the Eau Claire roundtable. |
| AD92 | Clint Moses (R, I) | — | — | ● | NDA-transparency bill (Dunn County-inspired): "decisions are made with full information, not behind closed doors." |
| AD94 | Steve Doyle (D, I) | — | — | ◐ | Voted FOR AB840 (Examiner). |
| AD95 | Jill Billings (D) | — | — | ◐ | AB722 co-author. |
| AD96 | Tara Johnson (D, I) | — | — | ● | PSC review authority (with Hysell); transmission-line siting bill with Sen. Pfaff — new lines along existing rights-of-way. |
| AD97 | Cindi Duchow (R, I) | — | — | ◐ | Official statement: "Republicans Deliver Accountability and Transparency for Data Center Projects." |
| AD98 | Jim Piwowarczyk (R, I) / Matt Philibert (R) | — | — | ◐ | Head-to-head Q&A: Piwowarczyk cites his record supporting data center regulations; Philibert "called for stricter oversight." |
| AD99 | Barbara Dittrich (R) | ● | ● | — | SB3 co-sponsor. |
The Silence List — 142 candidates, no on-the-record statement
AD1: Joel Kitchens, Renee Paplham · AD2: Alicia Saunders · AD3: Michael J. Goodwin · AD4: Alexia Unertl · AD5: Justin Schumacher, David Schupbach · AD7: Lee Whiting, Karen Kirsch · AD8: Angel Sanchez, Ismael Luna · AD9: Sam Guerrero, Priscilla Prado · AD10: Robert Longwell-Grice · AD11: Shandowlyon Reaves (R) · AD12: Russell Antonio Goodwin Sr. · AD13: Mike Morgan, Amy Zimmerman · AD15: Stephen Tryon · AD16: Alciro Deacon, Kalan Haywood · AD17: Charlene Abughrin (R), Supreme Moore Omokunde (D, I) · AD18: Joel Richmond, Margaret Arney · AD19: Yasmine Outlaw, Ryan Clancy · AD20: Kyle Cleary, Christine Sinicki · AD21: Dylan Pfaffenbach, Daniel Bukiewicz · AD22: Dana Glasstein · AD23: Aleaner Pabonnie · AD24: Matt Brown · AD25: Paul Tittl, Christopher Able · AD26: John Belanger, Joe Sheehan · AD28: Robin Lillesve · AD29: Treig Pronschinske, Chris Danou · AD30: Kevin Knoke · AD31: Tyler August, John Perryman · AD32: Amanda Nedweski, Greg Miller · AD33: Steve Wicklund, Maria Elena Bisabarros · AD34: Rob Swearingen, Merlin Van Buren · AD35: Calvin Callahan, Elizabeth McCrank · AD36: Shena Chapman · AD37: LaToya Bates · AD38: Terri Wenkman · AD39: Michael Skivington · AD40: Julie Helmer, Karen DeSanto · AD41: Tony Kurtz, Zach Commons · AD42: Keith F. Miller · AD43: Paul McGraw, Brienne Brown · AD44: Ron Woodman, Ann Roe · AD45: Jocelyn Jordan · AD46: John Donohue · AD47: Sandy Bakk · AD48: Mark Kjorlie · AD49: John Rindy · AD50: Bill Oemichen · AD51: Nathan Tataje, Ben Gruber · AD52: Reive Pullen, Lee Snodgrass · AD53: Rachael Dowling, David Daniels, Becky Nichols · AD54: Tim Paterson · AD55: Nate Gustafson, Alex Corrigan · AD56: Anthony W. Phillips, Grace Abitz · AD57: Kevin Krentz, Joey Marschall · AD58: Bernie Newman, Dennis Degenhardt · AD59: Bradley Petersen, Jack Holzman · AD60: Tiffany Brault, Marty Ryan · AD61: Bob Donovan, Ben Brist · AD62: Mike Bellagio, Angelina M. Cruz · AD63: Eddie Phanichkul · AD64: Ed Hibsch, Tip McGuire · AD65: Valerie Kretchmer · AD66: Gina Cefalu Paulick · AD67: Indiana Thompson · AD68: Rob Summerfield, Elisha King · AD69: Josh Kelley, Roger Halls · AD70: Nancy VanderMeer, Stephanie Stuve Bodeen · AD71: Jeff Disher · AD72: Christine Maltese · AD73: Frank Kostka · AD74: Chanz Green, Paul Johnson · AD75: Duke Tucker, Keith Mogel · AD76: Nina Chat, Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford · AD77: Jane McCormick · AD78: Henry Johnson, Shelia Stubbs · AD79: John Fons, Lisa Subeck · AD80: Simran Arora · AD81: Mark S. Maier, Alex Joers · AD82: Bryson Reyes, Rico Camacho · AD85: John Kroll · AD86: Andy Wuethrich · AD87: Bob Look · AD88: Ben Franklin · AD89: Bobby R. Lindsey, Ryan Spaude · AD90: Jessica Henderson, Amaad Rivera-Wagner · AD91: Bruce Stabenow · AD92: Jeremiah Fredrickson · AD93: Michael Ayala, Christian Phelps · AD94: Keith Purnell · AD95: Paul Michael Weber, Cedric Schnitzler · AD96: Jim GreenWho Owns the Silence
The question about this list isn't "what do these people think?" It's "why has nobody put it on the record?"
Here's what we did before we printed a single dash: we checked the interviews, the debates, the press releases, the campaign sites, and the bills. In the contested races, the question got asked — the 7th and 8th district congressional debates, the state senate debate on WRCO, the head-to-head candidate Q&As — and the candidates in the grid above answered it. In the 142 cases on this list, the answer was never put on record by anyone. Not by the candidates — and, in most of these districts, not by the newsrooms that covered the race.
To the news organizations covering this race: the fight that defined this cycle — who pays, who decides, who regulates — was on every ballot in this state. When the PSC's rate hearing drew public outcry in February and a 14% residential rate hike sat under review, the question was not hard to ask. If the fight of the cycle is not a question on your show, that's a judgment call your audience should notice.
Key Sources
- Official legislative records: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/ab840 · https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/ab722 · https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/sb3 · hearing transcripts (Jan. 14 / Feb. 17 / Mar. 10, 2026)
- AB840 passage and cross-party votes (Wisconsin Examiner, Jan. 21, 2026): https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/01/21/assembly-passes-gop-bill-to-regulate-data-centers-in-wisconsin/
- PSC "very large energy customer" hearing (Feb. 10, 2026): https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/02/10/wisconsin-public-service-commission-data-center-hearing-draws-public-outcry/
- WPR: nuclear package; Severson and Ray (SD25); nuclear siting measures
- Governor race: campaign sites (TomTiffany.com; crowleyforwi.com), Wisconsin Watch, Capital & Main, Farm Bureau candidate Q&A
- Congressional: Data Center Record (Moore, Fitzgerald vote records); Wisconsin Watch (Pocan, Grothman); official Wied letter (wied.house.gov); WisPolitics, State Affairs, WEAU, APG, Fox 11, TMJ4, WXOW, Civic Media
- Senate: campaign sites (Ellis, Jung, Carpenter, Van Someren, Battino, Moeller); Daily Dodge (Jagler); Beloit Daily News (Spreitzer/Anderson); Capital Times + WRCO (SD17); WPR
- Assembly: official releases (Tenorio, Born, Duchow, Hysell/Johnson, Udell); WEAU (Moses); Leader-Telegram (Emerson/Stroud); Times Herald (Behnke/Hinze); Wausau (Snyder town hall); GMG 98 (AD98); Urban Milwaukee
- Local: WAOW (Tigerton), Coalition Against Maribel town hall (De Soto, Aug. 17), Heartland Post (BECI letter), Daily Reporter (Driftless), Racine County Eye, Spectrum News, CBS58
- Save Wisconsin is a community resource, not a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Content in this newsletter is informational and opinion-based; it is not legal, financial, or engineering advice. Figures and quotes are drawn from the cited public sources as of the date above and may change; verify with primary documents before acting. Contributions to Save Wisconsin are not tax-deductible
- Every mark is backed by a verbatim quote, a vote, or a bill from a source we can point you to — campaign statements, debates, press releases, campaign sites, bills, and the legislative record. "No on-the-record statement" means we searched all of those as of November 1, 2026 and found nothing — not that the candidate has no view, and not an accusation of anything. If you know a candidate said something we missed, send it to us.
- Official legislative records (docs.legis.wisconsin.gov): AB840, AB722, SB3 + committee hearing transcripts (Jan. 14, Feb. 17, Mar. 10, 2026)
- Wisconsin Examiner: AB840 passage and cross-party votes (Jan. 21, 2026); PSC "very large energy customer" hearing (Feb. 10, 2026); WI-07 and WI-08 debates
- WPR: Severson and Ray (SD25); nuclear package; Grothman/Pocan (Wisconsin Watch)
- Governor race: campaign sites (TomTiffany.com, crowleyforwi.com), Wisconsin Watch, Capital & Main, Farm Bureau candidate Q&A
- Capital Times + WRCO (SD17); Daily Dodge (Jagler); Beloit Daily News (Spreitzer/Anderson); Times Herald (Behnke/Hinze)
- WEAU (Moses NDA bill); Leader-Telegram (Emerson/Stroud roundtable); WisPolitics (Van Orden non-negotiables); State Affairs (Cooke moratorium ad); Data Center Record (Moore, Fitzgerald vote records)
- CBS58 (We Energies 14% rate hearing, Sept. 1, 2026); official releases (Tenorio, Duchow, Hysell/Johnson, Udell)
- The full quote-level research with per-district source notes is in the Issue 20 research issue (savewisconsin.com, by request until published).
HOW WE BUILT THIS
UPDATED NOVEMBER 2, 2026