# AI Fears Fuel Michigan Democrat's Campaign

> Progressive Democrat Will Lawrence leverages AI concerns to challenge Republican incumbent in swing district.
- Title: AI Fears Fuel Michigan Democrat's Campaign · Seattletimes
- Summary: Progressive Democrat Will Lawrence leverages AI concerns to challenge Republican incumbent in swing district. Will Lawrence, a former Democratic Socialists…
- Keywords: michigan, data centers, will lawrence, tom barrett, democrat, michigan 7th congressional district, democratic socialists of america, mason city council, ai pause, open borders, defund police, Fears
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/ai-fears-are-fueling-progressive-democrats-campaign-in-michigan-battleground-district
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: michigan, ai, data centers, will lawrence, tom barrett, democrat, michigan 7th congressional district, democratic socialists of america, mason city council, ai pause, open borders, defund police
## 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
## Key takeaway

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.