Michael Whatley was a supporter of unpopular data centers. Whatley supported tax breaks for data centers and dismissed North Carolinian’s opposition to data centers by claiming the opposition wasn’t “organic.”
Whatley and his family held stock in companies that were building data centers and the utility companies that was fueling the data center boom.
Whatley is being backed by private equity executives who were developing a data center in Lee County, North Carolina that faced opposition from Lee County residents.
Whatley Claimed To Support Tax Breaks For Data Centers. According to Cardinal & Pine, “However, Spectrum News reported that Whatley said he supports tax breaks for data centers. The two are related concepts, but technically different. A tax break would mean companies pay less in taxes, whereas a subsidy would involve the government providing money or other financial support directly to the data center developer.” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
[VIDEO] Whatley Claimed That Opposition To Data Centers Wasn’t Organic And That It Was The Same People Who Opposed Nuclear And Natural Gas Plants. “Well, it is, but you still got to remember that this opposition to data centers is not organic. This this is being ginned up the same way that we saw opposition to energy projects around the country. You know, they're trying to build a new nuclear plant. All of a sudden, people come out of the woodwork and they hate nuclear. You try and build a new natural gas plant. You know, my opponent, Roy Cooper, who killed a natural gas pipeline that we've seen massive, you know, supply of clean burning natural gas down to North Carolina, you know, drove up electricity rates by 30% with his solar only programs while he's taking millions of dollars for him and his family from a solar sweetheart deal. You know that these things, you know, are not organic in terms of the opposite.” [Brian Kilmeade Show, 07/28/26]
Whatley And His Family Held Stock In Companies Involved In The Data Center Industry Such As Apple, Nvidia, Google And Microsoft. According to Cardinal & Pine, “Whatley has also disclosed that his family holds investments in several companies involved in the data center industry, including Apple, Nvidia, Alphabet (Google), and Microsoft.” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
Whatley And His Family Held Between $246,000 And $690,000 In Energy Investments With Companies Fueling Data Center Growth. According to Fox News, “Michael Whatley, the former chair of the Republican National Committee and the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, and his family hold between $246,000 and $690,000 in energy investments with companies fueling data center growth in the Tar Heel State, according to his federal disclosure.” [Fox News, 9/23/26]
The Holdings Included Duke Energy, Arista Networks, Dominion Energy And GE Vernova. According to Fox News, “Whatley and his family have holdings between $149,000 and $410,000 in Duke Energy, between $1,000 and $15,000 in Arista Networks, from $80,000 to $200,000 with Dominion Energy, and between $16,000 and $65,000 in GE Vernova. While most of those, like Duke and Vernova, don’t directly build data centers themselves, they offer services or products used by them. Duke is a major utility provider in North Carolina, and Vernova produces on-site gas turbines used by data center facilities operated by companies like Amazon and Microsoft.” [Fox News, 9/23/26]
Whatley Reported $361,000 From CAPCVentures LLC For Consulting Services And Who Lists GE Vernova As A Client. According to Fox News, “In addition to those investments, Whatley reported $361,000 from CAPCVentures LLC, a D.C. firm, for consulting services in 2025, according to his financial disclosure. That firm lists GE Vernova— a major supplier of turbines and grid equipment used to power data centers — as a client, along with Centrus Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association.” [Fox News, 9/23/26]
Cardinal & Pine: Senate Candidate Michael Whatley Accepted $27,000 From Data Center Developer [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
Whatley Accepted $27,000 In Contributions From Partners, Executives, And Investors Affiliated With Private Equity Firm KKR Which Co-Owned Data Center Company CyrusOne. According to Cardinal & Pine, “He has also accepted $27,000 in contributions from partners, executives, and investors affiliated with private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), which co-owns data center company CyrusOne. CyrusOne operates a data center campus in Durham and is building another campus in Lee County.” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
One Of Whatley’s KKR Donors, Raj Agrawal, Gave Whatley $5,000 And Referred To The Company As A “One-Stop Shop For Hyperscalers.” According to Cardinal & Pine, “One of Whatley’s KKR donors, Raj Agrawal, who gave Whatley $5,000, referred to the company as a ‘one-stop shop for hyperscalers.’” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
CyrusOne Was In The Process Of Developing A Data Center Campus In Lee County. According to Cardinal & Pine, “CyrusOne is also in the process of developing a data center campus in Lee County near Sanford.” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
Over 2,800 Lee County Residents Signed A Petition Calling For A Moratorium On Data Centers. According to Cardinal & Pine, “Over 2,800 Lee County residents signed a June petition calling for a moratorium on data centers.” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
A Third Generation Farmer Was Emotional At A Commission Hearing As He Discussed How The Data Center Could Impact His Farm. According to Cardinal & Pine, “A third-generation farmer in the community got emotional at an Aug. 17 county commission meeting as he discussed his concerns about the data center and how it could affect his farm, quality of life, and livestock. ‘I’ve been down there for 47 years. […] I’m thinking about selling every damn thing I got because of y’all,’ he said.” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]
At An Another Commission Meeting, A Different Farmer Expressed Concerns About Noise Pollution From The Data Center. According to Cardinal & Pine, “At a July commission meeting, another Lee County farmer, Jeff Kidd, expressed similar concerns about noise pollution coming from data centers. ‘Sounds like a helicopter landing on your house. This is what’s going to happen to us in Lower Moncure,’ Kidd said.” [Cardinal & Pine, 10/1/26]