From Seattletimes · · 3m
AI Fears Fuel Michigan Democrat's Campaign
Progressive Democrat Will Lawrence leverages AI concerns to challenge Republican incumbent in swing district.
In brief
Progressive Democrat Will Lawrence leverages AI concerns to challenge Republican incumbent in swing district. Will Lawrence, a former Democratic Socialists of America member, is running against incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in Michigan's 7th Congressional District by focusing on AI risks and data centers. Originally…
Local Democrats oppose AI data center
Emerson Hyde and Dan Ewart, both Republicans, stood outside a contentious city council meeting in Mason, Mich. where the most prominent person opposing a potential AI data center was the local Democratic candidate for Congress.
“He’s been out to my house several times”
Lawrence supports AI pause
Will Lawrence, 36, a former Democratic Socialists of America member, called for a pause on AI development after fears that the technology could eliminate humanity.
“We need to put a stop to this, because right now the whole thing is out of control and alarm bells are going off”
Lawrence's campaign strategy
Lawrence has focused on AI risks and data centers in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, a swing area that stretches from Detroit's furthest exurbs to farming communities west of Lansing.
“I’m talking about it because I give a damn about the people of this district”
Lawrence's past stances
Lawrence once called for ending fossil fuels, defunding police, and maintaining open borders, but has moved on from these positions, saying they were more of a 'performance' than serious policy.
“a suggestion he said was made during more of a 'performance'”
Barrett's opposition to AI
Incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett, a Republican, supports AI limits but has accepted donations from technology firms and voted for a tax-and-budget bill that would have banned state AI regulation for 10 years.
“the provision was removed from the final version of the bill”
Lawrence's local support
Lawrence has gained support from unexpected quarters in Mason, Mich., where residents like Zach Bartels, 48, a conservative independent, say they are 'one-issue voters' focused on data centers.
“right now I’m kind of a one-issue voter”
Data center opposition
Mason, Mich., a town of 8,000, has seen opposition to a potential $1 billion AI data center project that could be built on 405 acres of land.
“At the time, the city said there was not an official proposed project but disclosed it was in discussions to annex 405 neighboring acres”
Lawrence's campaign energy
Lawrence has been active in the district since last fall, attending meetings with residents and students, and has been described as having more energy than seen in a very long time by an 81-year-old former Democratic state lawmaker.
“There’s more energy in this Lawrence campaign than I’ve seen for a very, very long time”
Lawrence's DSA membership
Lawrence let his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America lapse this summer after his campaign said he was not present at the founding of the Lansing chapter.
“he let his membership in the DSA, whose Lansing chapter a member has said was founded in the living room of the building where Lawrence lived after college, lapse this summer”
Lawrence's campaign strategy
Lawrence has focused on AI risks and data centers in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, a swing area that stretches from Detroit's furthest exurbs to farming communities west of Lansing.
“I’m talking about it because I give a damn about the people of this district”
Lawrence's campaign impact
Lawrence has gained support from unexpected quarters in Mason, Mich., where residents like Zach Bartels, 48, a conservative independent, say they are 'one-issue voters' focused on data centers.
“right now I’m kind of a one-issue voter”
The headline
Will Lawrence, a former Democratic Socialists of America member, is running against incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in Michigan's 7th Congressional District by focusing on AI risks and data centers.
