Debates in Michigan, Kansas and Wisconsin focus on economy, Iran war and data center expansion
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Final debates in key Senate and governor races highlighted the economy, the war in Iran and the growth of rural data centers, while President Donald Trump’s comments toward Russia drew criticism.
Candidates in three closely watched races held their final debates as Election Day approaches. In Michigan, Republican Rep. Mike Rogers and Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed sparred over ties to President Donald Trump, with Rogers distancing himself from the president and El-Sayed denying connections to Islamist groups. Both addressed the economy, artificial intelligence and trade issues.
In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall defended most of President Trump’s agenda, including tariffs and a proposed lift of sanctions on Russian diesel exports, while Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, labeled Marshall’s stance on the war in Iran as misguided and positioned himself as an independent-minded Democrat.
The Wisconsin governor’s debate featured Republican Tom Tiffany promising tax cuts and a return of surplus funds, contrasted with Democrat David Crowley’s call for a "fair tax system" to fund education and infrastructure as the state prepares for its first open governor’s race since 2010.
Separately, an analysis of big-tech data center development noted that abundant land, cheap electricity and water are driving Amazon, Microsoft and Google to build facilities in rural America. The study projects that the number of rural data centers could triple, with associated energy use also expected to more than triple current capacity. Residents in affected Oregon counties remain divided on the projects’ impact.
President Donald Trump’s recent remarks toward Russian President Vladimir Putin have been described by experts as an attempt to encourage negotiations over the war in Ukraine. Trump’s lead negotiator, Steve Witkoff, referred to Putin as a "humanitarian" for the release of an American teacher, a comment that drew criticism from some Republican lawmakers. Former national-security adviser Robert O’Brien, who served in Trump’s first term, said that portraying Trump as fully aligned with Ukraine would hinder any potential talks with Putin.