Data Center Opposition Becomes Key Battleground in Competitive Pennsylvania Senate Race

The 24th State Senate District Flashpoint

Millions of dollars are flooding into Pennsylvania’s 24th state Senate District as incumbent Republican Tracy Pennycuick and Democratic challenger Chris Thomas battle over who holds the tougher stance against local data center developments, Spotlight PA reported.

Covering portions of Montgomery and Berks Counties, this race ranks among the most hotly contested matchups in the upper chamber this cycle. In the previous Senate election there, the GOP secured victory by four points and currently maintains an approximate six-point advantage in voter registration. Yet Democrats view the seat as a prime opportunity to help flip the chamber for the first time in decades, a move that could hand them a political trifecta in Harrisburg.

Three separate data center proposals have cropped up within district lines, sparking intense community pushback and fierce local scrutiny. Resistance in Upper Hanover Township recently forced a developer to scuttle one of those projects entirely.

Voters like Maureen Garrett, a 68-year-old retired physical therapist living near Limerick Township, find themselves caught in a wave of political advertising. Between September 15 and October 19 alone, the two campaigns poured roughly $9 million into television ads, digital spots, and direct mailers.

I saw so many attacks on both sides that it was very hard to know what’s right and what’s wrong. I don’t know what’s true, Garrett told Spotlight PA.

Garrett ultimately decided her vote based on party platforms rather than individual candidate claims, prioritizing environmental protections and resistance to data centers.

The Campaign Attacks and Changing Records

Both candidates have leaned heavily into anti-data-center messaging, though each accuses the other of being too close to the tech industry. Thomas, a volunteer firefighter and former middle school math and science teacher, features ads branding Pennycuick as Big Tech’s ally in the state capital. His platform vows to halt facilities that drive up utility bills and force developers to pay their fair share.

Having served in the state House before her 2022 Senate victory following a career as a military veteran and aviation consulting firm owner, Pennycuick fires back by accusing her rival of answering to data center developers and radical California donors. According to Thomas’ campaign, he performed municipal-level advising and “temporary” marketing for the firm subsequent to its consultation on the Amazon project.

The anti-data-center narrative has presented unique challenges for Pennycuick due to an evolving legislative record. In July 2025, she co-sponsored a bill designed to accelerate permitting for AI-related projects and block municipalities from imposing stricter zoning on data centers than other industrial sites. In February of this year, she amended the measure to strip out both the fast-track provisions and zoning restrictions. The bill has remained stalled since.

Lehigh Valley-based political strategist Sam Chen noted that many politicians shifted positions once public opposition intensified. While Pennycuick now argues for community-tailored approaches, critics argue the adjustments came late in the cycle.

What Lies Ahead for Control of the Senate

Despite the sharp rhetoric, the actual policy goals of both candidates share notable similarities. Rather than pursuing an outright moratorium, both advocate for guardrails. Pennycuick introduced subsequent legislation requiring data centers to supply their own energy and banning secretive nondisclosure agreements with municipal officials. Thomas has similarly proposed mandating independent energy sources for the facilities alongside required contributions to local school districts and infrastructure.

Janesville, once a symbol of the Great Recession, becomes AI data center battleground

With very limited public polling available for state-level contests, a September survey from State Navigate showed Thomas holding a two-point lead, sitting within the poll’s four-point margin of error. Meanwhile, Green Party candidate Michael Schonewolf Jr., who thinks data centers should be banned entirely, polls at 2% to 3%, a potential factor in a close contest.

Lehigh University political science professor Chris Borick emphasized the high stakes of the contest for the balance of power in Harrisburg.

It’s hard to imagine a path for Democratic control of the Senate if they can’t flip seats in this region, Borick told Spotlight PA.