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The data center political dispute has intensified in Billings this month, with Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, a leading Republican, facing new opposition in his race to represent Billings Heights and Shepherd. Data center development has drawn significant attention and protests, particularly against the proposed Broadview project.
Sen. Daniel Zolnikov’s campaign is being challenged by Cari Olson and Elijah Tidswell, both running write-in campaigns. Zolnikov, previously unopposed, is associated with Broad Reach Power, linked to the planned data center near Broadview. Opponents like Olson have been active critics, labeling him “Data Center Danny.”
Elijah Tidswell, a 22-year-old real estate agent, previously ran as a Republican against Democratic Sen. Kathy Kelker. Opponents of the Quantica project have voiced concerns about water and electricity issues. A petition aimed to halt the development was invalidated due to a legislative change in the signature deadline, unexpectedly affecting the campaign.
Tidswell criticized Zolnikov, saying, “He’s passing bills that help these data centers out massively.” The controversy also surrounds a property tax bill for data centers, supported by Zolnikov’s wife, Rep. Katie Zolnikov. This bill complements Zolnikov’s legislative history, including the “right to compute” act focusing on AI regulations.
The Senate race sees Zolnikov confident his challengers will split the write-in vote, as only one write-in line exists per race. While write-in campaigns rarely succeed, they have won in other municipal races, adding pressure in this heated political landscape.
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