Will Lawrence, a Michigan House candidate and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, made a compelling case for a federal moratorium on new AI data centers during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. Speaking at a campaign event in South Lansing, Michigan, Lawrence stressed the urgent need for a nationwide pause in constructing these facilities. He emphasized that such a moratorium would allow the nation to initiate a meaningful conversation about the development of hyper-intelligent AI and ensure it benefits the entire public rather than just a small group of billionaires in Silicon Valley.
Lawrence pointed out how tech moguls and financial elites from Silicon Valley and Wall Street are stepping into small towns, offering assurances that energy costs won’t rise and that the projects will deliver broad benefits. However, he argued that these promises are misleading. Lawrence insisted that the current way of building AI data centers undermines the core principles of democracy and self-determination, which are central to the American identity. In his view, the process lacks transparency and public input, which he believes must be rectified before further development can proceed.
Beyond his stance on data centers, Lawrence also expressed strong opposition to several policies of President Donald Trump. He echoed the broader views of the DSA by calling for significant campaign finance reform, especially in the form of publicly funded elections. Lawrence argued that the influx of money into politics harms the democratic process and creates an unlevel playing field where only the wealthy can compete effectively.
Call for Overturning Citizens United Decision
Lawrence also voiced strong criticism of the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission. The landmark ruling, which he described as a turning point in American politics, classified political contributions as a form of free speech under the First Amendment. He warned that without reform at the Supreme Court level, the decision must be overturned through a constitutional amendment. He believes the ruling has facilitated the rise of dark money and undermined the integrity of the democratic process.
Lawrence added that reform should extend beyond just challenging Citizens United. He argued for public funding of elections, a policy he claims would allow every candidate with grassroots support to have equal access to resources. Under such a system, he explained, candidates would not be at a disadvantage simply because they lack personal wealth or the backing of powerful donors.
Lawrence is currently running in the Aug. He is competing against several other Democratic candidates to face off against Republican Tom Barrett in November's election. Barrett, a first-term congressman, holds the seat previously vacated by current Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin. Fox News Digital reached out to the Barrett and Brink campaigns as well as the DSA for further comment but did not receive any responses.
