New Super PAC Backs Kansas Governor Candidate With $1.5 Million

Residents of Kansas will see new television and digital advertisements in the coming weeks as a newly formed political action committee enters the governor's race. Building the Future, a super PAC focused on data center interests, is spending more than $1.5 million to support Republican state Sen. Ty Masterson. A person familiar with the spending confirmed the figures on Monday, providing the first specific details on the group's financial entry into the state's gubernatorial contest.

The committee is an offshoot of Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by major figures in the artificial intelligence industry. This new entity represents a shift in how data center developers and AI firms are engaging in midterm elections. The group was formed in August, following the announcement of a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by Build American AI, a nonprofit within the same network. That earlier campaign targeted Kansas, Ohio, and Wisconsin to promote policies favorable to data center expansion.

Building the Future stated in August that it would support candidates who advocate for "responsible policies that strengthen and protect communities, preserve water resources, and prevent rate hikes on electricity bills." The group emphasized the need to maintain American leadership in AI while creating high-paying jobs for local workers. This strategy coincides with a growing national opposition to the sprawling infrastructure required for the AI boom, making data centers a prominent issue for voters in several states.

The Kansas race is viewed as a key battleground for Republicans seeking to flip governorships from Democratic control. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report lists the contest as leaning Republican. The state is also hosting a competitive Senate race between Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton. Meanwhile, the same PAC is preparing to spend approximately $1.5 million on advertising in South Carolina to boost Republican Sen. Darline Graham, according to a report from The New York Times.

Democratic candidate Kris Holscher responded to the spending with a statement on Monday. She described Masterson as a "stooge for Big Tech" who intends to "put a data center on every corner and in every cornfield." Holscher argued that Masterson would grant tax breaks to industry leaders while everyday Kansans faced rising costs. She said, "These billionaire CEOs know that I won’t do their bidding, and that’s why they’re spending millions to beat me. But I’ll keep fighting for guardrails on data centers, and I’ll always put Kansans first."

Masterson did not immediately provide comment on the new funding. In the state legislature, he has opposed moratoriums on data center construction and voted for a 2025 law that provided sales tax exemptions for such investments. Holscher, who also voted for that law, has since called for a statewide pause on new developments. In South Carolina, Graham has supported local control over construction while framing the investments as a national security necessity. Her Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, has pushed for a moratorium and referred to Graham as "Data Center Darline."