National PACs Spend Over $1.5 Million Backing Kansas Governor Candidate

A national super PAC is spending more than $1.5 million to support Ty Masterson, the Republican candidate for Kansas governor. The funding comes from Building the Future, a group that favors the expansion of data centers. NBC News first reported the expenditure on Wednesday.

Masterson has not issued a response to questions about the funding. The money arrives as national political groups increase their focus on the Kansas midterm election. These groups are now directing both funds and messaging into the state.

In Ottawa, Kansas, residents are voting on a citizen-led proposal to ban data centers in the town for 10 years. A super PAC called Defend U.S., based in Virginia, is sending mailers to local households to influence this vote. The mailers advocate for the development of data centers.

Michael Lewis, an Ottawa resident, noted that large billboards along Interstate 35 tell voters to vote no on the data center question. He described the signs as being 50 feet tall. It is currently unclear which entity funded these specific billboards.

The local fight stems from a proposed 300-acre data center development on the south side of town. A group called Ottawa United Inc. formed this summer to gather signatures for the ballot initiative. In an August lawsuit, Lewis and resident Kim Conard alleged the city ignored the petition. On October 20, a judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, allowing the question to proceed to the ballot.

Jessica Christopher, a member of Ottawa United and the author of the proposed ordinance, lives near the planned Proximity Park development. She said the group is receiving multiple calls and texts supporting data center construction. Christopher noted that her group relies on door knocking rather than paid mailers or billboards.

Christopher described the issue as non-partisan. On East Logan Street, neighbors with yard signs for opposing political candidates both display Ottawa United's vote yes sign. Lewis said the signs show that the community remains united despite outside spending. The local vote will determine whether Ottawa bans data center development for the next decade.