Data Centers Emerge as Kansas Governor Issue

Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher are divided on data center policy as the race heads toward November.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Data Centers

Data Centers Emerge as Kansas Governor Issue

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Data centers have become a key issue in the Kansas governor race, with pro-data center super PAC Building the Future spending more than $1.5 million to support Republican Sen. Ty Masterson. Democratic candidate Cindy Holscher has shifted to advocate a statewide moratorium on data centers, while Masterson opposes moratoriums.

Why it matters

Two data center projects are moving forward in De Soto, Kansas, and the issue is expected to become a larger political concern, particularly at the local level. Both candidates voted last year for a bill giving data center developers sales tax exemptions, and no clearly defined party lines exist on the issue.

Pro-data center super PAC Building the Future has spent more than $1.5 million supporting Republican Ty Masterson in the Kansas governor race. Whether this spending will shift voter opinion on data center policy remains unclear.

The players

Ty Masterson

Ty Masterson is the Republican candidate for Kansas governor and a state senator who opposes moratoriums on data centers.

Cindy Holscher

Cindy Holscher is the Democratic candidate for Kansas governor who has shifted to advocate a statewide moratorium on data centers.

Building the Future

Building the Future is a pro-data center super PAC spending more than $1.5 million to support Ty Masterson's campaign.

The details

Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher are the leading candidates in the Kansas governor race. Both voted last year for a bill giving data center developers sales tax exemptions, but Holscher has since changed her position to support a statewide moratorium on data centers.

Last year: Masterson and Holscher vote for a data center sales tax exemption bill.
Last week: Park University professor Matt Harris comments on the data center issue.
November 3, 2026: Coverage of data centers in the Kansas governor race is published.

Big Picture

Both leading candidates supported the 2025 Kansas sales tax exemption for data center developers, which places the current campaign debate in the context of a policy the state has already adopted. The shift in Holscher's position shows how the issue has moved from legislative approval to electoral contention.

Residents in communities such as De Soto may see two data center projects move forward, which could affect local land use and utility planning. Voters in Kansas will weigh these positions as they decide the governor race.

The takeaway

Voters evaluating candidates should look past party labels, since both major candidates have taken positions that do not follow a clear partisan split. Local officials in communities considering data center projects will likely face similar questions about incentives and moratoriums.