Industry PAC Spends $1.5 Million in South Carolina Race
The investment aims to sway public opinion on data center construction during the current Senate campaign.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Data Centers
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In October 2026, the industry-aligned super PAC Building the Future reserved $1.5 million in advertising to support Republican incumbent Senator Darline Graham. The campaign expenditure comes as the organization seeks to counteract local resistance to data center construction projects in South Carolina.
Why it matters
The investment signals an intensified effort by the data center industry to shape legislative outcomes in regions where expansion faces public pushback. By prioritizing political influence, the industry aims to secure favorable regulatory environments for future facility development.
The $1.5 million reservation represents the PAC's first major capital deployment in the 2026 cycle. This financial commitment is designed to shift public sentiment in a race where polls indicate voter discomfort with the footprint of new data center projects.
The players
Building the Future
A super PAC backed by the data center industry that aims to influence legislative outcomes regarding infrastructure development.
Darline Graham
The incumbent Republican Senator for South Carolina appointed following the death of Lindsey Graham.
Annie Andrews
The Democratic candidate currently running for the South Carolina Senate seat against incumbent Darline Graham.
The details
Building the Future is a super PAC, an independent political committee that can raise unlimited funds to advocate for or against candidates. The group is leveraging these funds to influence voters in the South Carolina Senate race between Senator Darline Graham and challenger Annie Andrews. By focusing on mass-media advertising, the PAC aims to reframe the debate around local infrastructure construction and data center utility.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Lindsey Graham passed away, triggering a special primary process.
October 2026: Building the Future reserved $1.5 million in advertising.
2028: The PAC intends to continue its influence campaign in future election cycles.
The Tech Race
This move follows the political landscape established by the 2026 South Carolina Senate special primary. It represents a strategic pivot for the data center industry as it shifts from local permitting battles to direct electoral involvement.
South Carolina voters will begin seeing the PAC's messaging in the final stretch of the election cycle as the advertising reservation is utilized. The campaign aims to directly influence the outcome of the Senate race by addressing concerns regarding the prevalence of large-scale data center facilities.
The takeaway
The industry's investment serves as a benchmark for how capital-intensive sectors may prioritize legislative advocacy in response to local public pushback. Voters should watch for shifts in the candidates' campaign platforms regarding infrastructure policy leading up to the 2028 cycle.
Further reading
Learn more about how infrastructure development intersects with state policy in Data Centers.
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