Missouri District 10 Elects Data Center Critic

Mike Deering's win follows a primary fight over data centers in Callaway County, where many developments have been proposed.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Data Centers

Abstract editorial illustration of a single utility structure and receding power poles across flat prairie under a pale sky, in muted slate, cream, and oxblood tones. — Republican Mike Deering won Missouri's 10th District seat with 65% of the vote over Democrat John Wells on November 3, after running against data center development in rural counties. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should your community heavily restrict new data center development?

Republican Mike Deering won Missouri's District 10 seat with 65% of the vote over Democrat John Wells in the November 3, 2026 general election. The result is a finished election, not a pending or proposed policy.

Why it matters

Deering's campaign turned on data center development, an issue that drew a sharp primary fight with state Rep. Tricia Byrnes, who accused him of supporting data centers. His win signals that voters in northern Callaway County and surrounding counties, where many data center projects have been proposed, sent a lawmaker who says data center infrastructure should be heavily restricted.

The results are vote-share figures from the general election and the August primary, not a measure of data center policy outcomes. The reported percentages describe voter preference only and do not indicate how the winner's policy positions will translate into law.

The players

Mike Deering

Republican state lawmaker and executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association who won the District 10 seat.

Tricia Byrnes

Missouri state representative from Wentzville who lost the August primary to Deering after accusing him of supporting data centers.

John Wells

Democratic challenger from Columbia who lost the general election to Deering, holding a masters degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.

The Missouri Independent

Missouri-focused news outlet that reported Deering's stated position favoring heavy restrictions on data center infrastructure.

The details

Deering, who lives in Montgomery City and serves as executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association, took the seat covering Callaway, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike and northwestern St. Charles counties. In the primary, state Rep. Tricia Byrnes of Wentzville attacked him for supporting data centers, calling him "Data Center Deering" in a Facebook post last July. Deering told The Missouri Independent last July that he believes data center infrastructure should be heavily restricted, a position that became central to the contest.

Last July: Byrnes posted the "Data Center Deering" attack, and Deering told The Missouri Independent he favors heavy restrictions.
August: Deering defeated Byrnes in the primary with 57% of the vote.
November 3, 2026: Deering won the general election with 65% over Democrat John Wells.

The Tech Race

The District 10 contest followed proposed data center developments in northern Callaway County and the Amazon and Google facilities under construction in New Florence. Voter support for a candidate who favors heavy restrictions suggests that local opposition to data center siting is now a factor in Missouri's electoral politics.

Residents of Callaway, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike and northwestern St. Charles counties now have a state representative who has said data center infrastructure should be heavily restricted. The source does not state when any legislative action on data centers would take effect or what specific restrictions would be proposed.

The takeaway

Watch whether Deering introduces data center restrictions in the next legislative session and how the New Florence projects proceed under the new representation. The Missouri Independent's July interview, in which he stated his position, is the clearest record of what he has said he will pursue.