Tiffany’s attack ad on Crowley and data centers is misleading at best, as GOP candidate has publicly backed them in new audio

Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor Tom Tiffany released a new attack ad on David Crowley, but the 30-second spot has misleading information about the Milwaukee County Executive’s donations. 

Tiffany also recently told a member of the public during an event that he agreed that data centers are here to stay, according to audio obtained by the Milwaukee Courier. 

Tiffany released the new ad on Aug. 17.

“Meet Data Center David Crowley,” a menacing narrator voice begins. 

The ad then cuts to Crowley speaking at an event, where he said Wisconsin could become “an AI and data hub not only for the entire country, but for the entire globe.”

Crowley’s campaign said his comments were taken out of context and intentionally clipped.

“And he wants you to pay for it,” the ad continues. “Data Center David Crowley won’t roll back data center tax incentives. Our lakes run dry. Family farms paved over. Why? Because Crowley’s campaign is funded by the people building them.”

The ad then shows a graphic of $350,000 in accepted donations. 

But Crowley received that funding from workers’ trade unions, like laborers, electricians, pipe tradesmen, carpenters and plumbers, not major data center developers. 

What Tiffany also fails to acknowledge is that he has received thousands from a data center lobbyist, which the Courier reported last week. 

According to campaign finance reports, Tiffany also received money from lobbyists for OpenAI and Oracle, and accepted a donation from Amazon, which builds data centers. 

Tiffany has also touted data centers as an “exciting new technology” that is “going to be the next thing here in the world. And we should certainly be taking a look at it here in Wisconsin.” Tiffany said data centers are necessary to keep them from being outsourced to China.

Tiffany’s congressional record shows one friendly to data centers and Big Tech. He opposed regulating data centers and artificial intelligence for 10 years and was in favor of big tax breaks for major developers like Microsoft and Meta. He also supported legislation aimed at expediting data center buildouts, like the SPEED Act. 

Tiffany affirms voter’s thoughts on data centers 

A local voter had an exchange with Tiffany on Aug. 17, which was recorded and provided to the Courier. Tiffany has been suggesting adding nuclear reactors to the data centers.

 “I love what you said about data centers and nuclear reactors. I think data centers are here to stay, right?,” the voter asks.

“Sure,” Tiffany responds. 

The resident says, “powering them with nuclear reactors. We don’t want to waste all our beautiful farmland. That would be the way to go.”

“Yeah,” Tiffany responds. 

“You’re good with that?” the voter asks.

“Yeah,” Tiffany responds before the voter adds “If they are like regulated and stuff?”

“They gotta be regulated,” Tiffany replies. 

Tiffany’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, but a spokesman for Crowley did. 

“MAGA extremist Congressman Tom Tiffany’s true agenda is to burn more coal. His proposal to power data centers with nuclear energy would take over ten years to develop,” said Jonathan Fera. “Wisconsinites need relief now from the affordability crisis he and Donald Trump created. If Congressman Tom Tiffany won’t support our 100% renewable energy plan, his only solution will be to burn more coal, dirty our air, and pollute our water—something Wisconsinites do not deserve.”