{"id":2244,"date":"2026-05-21T10:39:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T10:39:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/21\/bernie-sanders-backs-climate-activist-in-close-michigan-congressional-primary\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:39:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T10:39:47","slug":"bernie-sanders-backs-climate-activist-in-close-michigan-congressional-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=2244","title":{"rendered":"Bernie Sanders backs climate activist in close Michigan congressional primary"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"19c8b5f8-0c96-449f-a055-dd2d835d9614\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Side-by-side portraits of Will Lawrence with long hair and glasses next to Bernie Sanders with glasses\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/0dbf1fb66f1740d8aea82bab6baea96e71d938c4\/0_0_5000_4000\/master\/5000.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Will Lawrence and Bernie Sanders<\/span> Composite: Anjali Cadambi, Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"19c8b5f8-0c96-449f-a055-dd2d835d9614\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Will Lawrence and Bernie Sanders<\/span> Composite: Anjali Cadambi, Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Bernie Sanders backs climate activist in close Michigan congressional primary<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>Will Lawrence, an outspoken opponent of AI data centers, is running in swing district where three mega complexes loom<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A prominent environmental organizer calling for a nationwide moratorium on data centers as he runs for the Democratic nomination in a swing Michigan congressional district has secured an endorsement from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/bernie-sanders\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Bernie Sanders<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Will Lawrence, co-founder of the youth-led Sunrise Movement climate justice group, was a key figure behind the campaign for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2019\/feb\/07\/green-new-deal-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-plan\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Green New Deal<\/a> to battle economic and racial injustice while also fighting climate change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Now he\u2019s running for US Congress, in a three-way Democratic primary to represent the party in Michigan\u2019s purple seventh district.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cI learned at Sunrise just how important it is who is in office,\u201d Lawrence, a Lansing native, said. The group made headlines in 2018 when it stormed the office of then House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, demanding a swift end to fossil fuels and a jobs guarantee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Voters in Michigan\u2019s seventh district voted for Donald Trump in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 US presidential elections, and also elected Republican Tom Barrett to Congress in 2024. But the district has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/house\/race\/483311\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">labelled<\/a> a \u201ctoss-up\u201d by the Cook Political Report ahead of November\u2019s midterm elections, and is a key target for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On Thursday morning Sanders, the influential independent US senator from Vermont, threw his support behind Lawrence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In a statement, Sanders praised Lawrence as an \u201caccomplished organizer\u201d who will \u201cdemand real accountability for big tech and AI companies\u201d as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/mar\/02\/amazon-data-centers-small-towns\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">gargantuan data centers are constructed across the US<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWill is running an energizing, people-powered campaign and building a strong grassroots coalition that is prepared to stand up to Big Money interests,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cWill is exactly the kind of leader we need in Congress, and I\u2019m proud to support his campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Lawrence, who has also been endorsed by progressive Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, has been shown as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/michigan-us-house-7-polls-2026.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the primary frontrunner<\/a> by some polls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In the seventh district, which covers a southern-central swath of Michigan that includes Lansing, the state\u2019s capital, three hyperscaler-size AI data centers are proposed; another was recently struck down by Lansing\u2019s city council.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Lawrence has endorsed Sanders\u2019s call for a national moratorium on AI data centers until lawmakers to develop stringent regulations. In his district, he also has stood alongside residents in his hometown, Lansing, and elsewhere to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUoqgTQiqs1\/?img_index=3\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">rally against the proposals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It comes amid a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/mar\/03\/datacenter-politics-north-carolina-primary\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">broader pushback against data centers<\/a> from progressive climate champions, as they push to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/05\/climate-crisis-working-class-economy\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">recast climate and environmental policies<\/a> as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jan\/01\/affordability-climate-utility-bills-rent\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">populist pocketbook issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The problems with data centers are myriad, according to Lawrence: they fuel AI, which threatens many American jobs; consume <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2025\/apr\/09\/big-tech-datacentres-water\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">water<\/a>; and can push up utility bills due to their massive electricity needs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">An overwhelming majority of proposed US data centers would also be powered by planet-warming gas. \u201cIt\u2019s a form of climate denial, it really is, if you think that we\u2019re going to be able to bring all this natural gas online and it\u2019s not going to have have a devastating impact on Michigan\u2019s climate,\u201d said Lawrence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Barrett, the incumbent Republican congressperson, does not support a national data center moratorium. Neither of Lawrence\u2019s two Democratic primary opponents <strong>\u2013 <\/strong>Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam \u2013 have thrown their backing behind a temporary ban, either.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cWhether a community chooses to have data centers is up to those communities. The federal government should not tell local officials what businesses they can or cannot not have,\u201d Jason Cabel Roe, consultant for Barrett\u2019s campaign, told the Guardian. <strong>\u201c<\/strong>Congressman Barrett believes local communities and their elected officials are best equipped to make those decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A spokesperson for Brink, former ambassador to Slovakia, who has won the backing of Emily\u2019s List, the group that backs female candidates who support abortion rights, and some local officials, said she also believes that \u201clocal communities should hold the decision making power on building data centers, with transparency and accountability from corporations and government officials\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cAny data center project should insure hard working Michigan families won\u2019t pay higher utility rates, data centers don\u2019t strain our grid and rely on their own clean energy power and utility infrastructure, communities aren\u2019t hurt, and our environment is protected,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Maasdam, who served as Barack Obama\u2019s military aide<strong>,<\/strong> did not respond to a request for comment. His campaign website says he would \u201cmake sure Michigan families are at the forefront of the AI safety conversation, protecting kids from harmful content and keeping their data and privacy secure\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">While Lawrence said he had heard from Democratic and Republican Michiganders alike who are concerned about AI infrastructure expansion, some state labor unions and local officials have supported data center proposals in the region, seeking jobs and investment. He was \u201csympathetic to their concerns\u201d, he said, but feels data centers are a \u201craw deal\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThese big tech billionaires want us to be desperate, they want us to have no development opportunities, except for these very massive data centers that very few people want \u2026 and that threaten employment with AI in the longer term,\u201d said Lawrence, who argued that too many elected Republicans and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Democrats<\/a> have been taking money from Silicon Valley, Wall Street and big oil giants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Barrett has taken funding from political action committees tied to energy company DTE Energy and other private entities, Lawrence noted, accusing the Republican of doing \u201cnothing but follow orders from these corporate donors and from President Trump\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Roe, Barrett\u2019s campaign consultant, said: \u201cMr Lawrence might not like it, but the voters of the 7th District voted for President Trump, not Kamala Harris. They also voted by an even larger margin for Congressman Barrett.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/candidate\/H6MI07256\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Brink<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/data\/candidate\/H6MI07272\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Maasdam<\/a> have also taken funding from Big Tech investors, Lawrence noted, including ones investing in data centers. Sam Boorstyn, Brink\u2019s campaign manager, said she was \u201cnot going to stand for cynical smears from Donald Trump or her political opponents\u201d, but did not directly respond to a question about Brink\u2019s corporate donors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">AI is at the heart of the race to represent this tight congressional district. \u201cData centers put a tremendous, unprecedented and unexpected burden on the grid to increase overall demand,\u201d said Lawrence. \u201cAnd there\u2019s just no plan to do that in a clean way.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/michigan\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Michigan<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-politics\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US politics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-midterm-elections-2026\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US midterm elections 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/bernie-sanders\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Bernie Sanders<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/democrats\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Bernie%20Sanders%20backs%20climate%20activist%20in%20close%20Michigan%20congressional%20primary&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/bernie-sanders-backs-climate-activist-michigan-race?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F21%2Fbernie-sanders-backs-climate-activist-michigan-race&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/21\/bernie-sanders-backs-climate-activist-michigan-race\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Will Lawrence and Bernie Sanders Composite: Anjali Cadambi, Getty Images View image in fullscreen Will Lawrence and Bernie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2244"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2244\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}