Seth Bodnar, running as an independent for Montana’s U.S. Senate seat, used a Helena press conference on August 31 to stake out a middle position on data center development, criticizing both major-party rivals for what he views as inadequate responses to the issue that has emerged as a defining campaign flashpoint.

Bodnar framed his approach as a departure from partisan gridlock, arguing that workable solutions to data center expansion cannot emerge from either Democrats or Republicans operating alone. He outlined a multi-part platform that would protect Montana consumers and communities while allowing regulated development of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The Competing Approaches

The three candidates are staking sharply different positions. Democratic nominee Alani Bankhead supports a federal moratorium on the largest data centers and a statewide ban on new developments in Montana. Bodnar’s plan includes several consumer and community protections: a Ratepayer Protection Act to prevent developers from shifting costs to utility consumers, mandatory disclosure of water and energy consumption, restrictions on out-of-state contractors bidding on construction work, and local community authority over project approval.

Republican Kurt Alme has largely remained silent on the issue, drawing criticism from Bodnar, who told the Helena audience, “All we’ve heard from him on this topic is silence. He won’t say anything about any of it because he’s too busy hiding from Montana voters.” Republican leadership nationally, including President Donald Trump, has pushed communities to welcome data center projects, as first reported by the Helena Independent Record. Gov. Greg Gianforte has backed data center development, though GOP support has become more conditional, with emphasis on protecting Montana’s natural resources and keeping jobs in-state.

Data center proposals are under consideration in three Montana locations: Butte, Missoula, and Broadview. The issue has become a wedge in the 2026 midterm elections nationwide, cutting across traditional party lines and energizing activist movements in both directions.

Organized Labor’s Role

Montana AFL-CIO leadership has signaled openness to collaboration with AI companies to ensure union workers participate in construction and operation jobs. That posture complicates the political landscape, as organized labor traditionally aligns with Democratic resistance to corporate expansion projects but recognizes employment opportunities in data center development.

An August 22 protest against data center expansion drew dozens of Lewis and Clark County residents to a march from Women’s Park to Anchor Park in downtown Helena, organized by the Northern Plains Resource Council. The Democratic Party added platform support for a two-year moratorium on data center development during summer 2026.

Bodnar accused the political establishment of mishandling the controversy. “The broken system, run by party bosses, lobbyists, tech billionaires and special interests, is making too much money off the status quo,” he told the Helena Independent Record, characterizing his independent candidacy as a vehicle for breaking that dynamic.

With the November 3 general election approaching, Montana Senate candidates continue to diverge on data center growth and AI oversight, and Bodnar’s August 31 announcement signals he intends to position himself as offering Montanans a regulatory middle ground. The data center debate reflects broader tensions between economic development and resource stewardship that will likely dominate Senate campaign messaging through the fall.