The debate over data center development is moving into Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District race, where Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden and Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke are each seeking to tie the other to the industry ahead of November’s election. Van Orden’s campaign has highlighted Cooke’s work with the Wisconsin Technology Council and the think tank Third Way, organizations that have supported data center projects in the past. Cooke’s campaign, joined by the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC, has focused on Van Orden’s campaign contributions from people and groups connected to data centers. Their advertising also criticizes Van Orden’s vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included tax breaks that data center developers have used over the past year. One House Majority PAC ad labels the two-term congressman “Data Center Derrick.” The nickname reflects a broader political effort to make data center policy a liability for candidates whose names begin with the letter D. In Wisconsin’s governor’s race, Republican Tom Tiffany has used the label “Data Center David” to criticize Democratic candidate David Crowley over past statements supporting data center projects. The issue carries particular weight in the western Wisconsin district, where residents have organized against large-scale data center development. Community opposition helped defeat a proposed project in Menomonie last year, giving candidates a clear local example of the political risks surrounding the industry. Data centers have become a growing point of contention as developers seek tax incentives and access to large amounts of electricity and water. Supporters typically frame the projects as economic development opportunities, while opponents have raised concerns about public subsidies and the infrastructure demands they can place on communities. The competing attacks in the 3rd Congressional District show both campaigns seeking to position themselves on the side of voters skeptical of data center expansion while portraying their opponent as aligned with developers and industry-backed policies.