A new super PAC tied to the artificial intelligence industry is spending more than $1.5 million to help Kansas state Sen. Ty Masterson, a Republican, win the governor's race. A person familiar with the spending shared the details with NBC News on Monday 1. A super PAC is a political group that can raise and spend unlimited money to influence an election, as long as it does not coordinate with a campaign.
The group, Building the Future, is an offshoot of Leading the Future, a pro-AI super PAC backed by AI heavyweights. NBC News called it arguably the leading super PAC promoting industry interests in the midterms 1. Building the Future was formed in August alongside a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin, run by a nonprofit in the same network 1.
What Holscher said
Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher, Masterson's opponent, accused him of being too close to Big Tech and said he wants “to put a data center on every corner and in every cornfield” 1. She said the industry is spending millions because it knows she will not do its bidding 1.
It’s also why he’s going to give them tax breaks while everyday Kansans’ costs go up
Masterson did not immediately comment to NBC News 1. In an earlier interview with the Kansas Reflector, he said he has not changed his position on data centers 2.
From Channel GOPSenator defends oath against Muslim Brotherhood claimsMike Rogers · 1.6K plays · captioned, with the source named
My position has never changed. It is about growth and opportunity for our kids.
The law at the center of the race
Both candidates voted for a 2025 Kansas law that gives large data centers a 20-year state and local sales tax exemption 12. To qualify, a company must invest at least $250 million over five years and create 20 jobs within two years 2. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bill in April 2025 2.
Holscher has since called for a statewide moratorium, meaning a pause on new data centers until stronger protections exist 12. Masterson has opposed moratoriums and defended the law 1. He has also proposed a ratepayer protection pledge that would make developers pay the full cost of their electricity 2.
Holscher said before Monday that AI and technology interests had spent nearly $1 million supporting Masterson's campaign. She also pointed to $8,000 that she says the CEO of the trade group NetChoice gave him after the bill passed 2. These are her claims. The article did not include a response from Masterson's campaign 2.
Why it matters
Kansas is one of the few Democratic-held governorships Republicans have a shot at flipping. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as leaning Republican 1. The state also has a competitive Senate race between Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton 1.
That matters because data centers, the huge buildings that power the AI boom, have become a voter issue across the country. NBC News reported that opposition has grown over months 1. Data centers are also an issue in South Carolina, where Democrat Annie Andrews is criticizing Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham over the issue 1.
Voters will decide on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Campaign finance reports should show more about who is paying for the ads.
The Record
- Gov. Laura Kelly signed a law giving large Kansas data centers a 20-year sales tax exemption; both Masterson and Holscher voted for it 2.
- Build American AI announced a multimillion-dollar ad campaign in Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin and formed the political group Building the Future 1.
- Building the Future was reported to be spending more than $1.5 million to back Masterson 1.
Sources
- NBC News, “Data center group jumps into the Kansas governor's race to boost Republicans” (2026-10-26). nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/data-center-group-kansas-
- Kansas Reflector / States Newsroom, “Debate about Kansas law incentivizing data center construction charges up governor's race” (2026-10-09). newsfromthestates.com/article/debate-about-kansas-law-incent
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