JOrne McAuliffe, a 33-year-old entrepreneur and former public servant, stands as an unexpected Democratic contender in this month’s Virginia House of Representatives election, especially given a campaign approach that occasionally resembled that of his Republican opponents.

Recently, Mr. McAuliffe joined 13 Democrats who secured Congressional seats in Virginia during a significant electoral win for his party, granting them robust control over state governance. With victories in states like New Jersey and California, this outcome provides a renewed advantage for Democrats nationwide, following a disheartening setback against Donald Trump and the Republican Party the previous year.

The northern Virginia district he aimed to represent, characterized by residential areas, agricultural land, and charming small towns, hadn’t seen a Democratic representative in decades. Thus, McAuliffe campaigned door-to-door on his electric scooter, reaching out to constituents with a pledge to “protect their way of life.” He dismissed the label “woke” and attributed the “chaos” to Washington, D.C., located over an hour away.

One of his primary talking points was a widespread concern resonating with many Democrats today, but with a distinct angle: the adverse impacts of data centers on electricity costs.

“I spent a majority of the year visiting households I never imagined were Democratic,” McAuliffe recounted. “Independents, Republicans, and an occasional Democrat, yet many began shutting their doors on me.”

“However, once they voiced a desire to discuss data centers, it opened a dialogue. That allowed me to draw a contrast, which is rare.”

Loudoun County’s data centers occupy about half of Virginia’s 30th House District, known for its high per capita income, and handle more traffic than any other region globally. While essential for many Internet functions, McAuliffe argued—and many voters concurred—that their presence can be burdensome.

Sizeable as warehouses, these data centers loom over nearby neighborhoods, buzzing with the sounds of servers and machinery. Developers seek to establish facilities in Fauquier County, the district’s other Republican-leaning area, but McAuliffe mentioned that residents are apprehensive about construction on rural farmland, renowned for its scenic vistas. He noted receiving complaints regarding the impact of data centers on electricity bills across the board.

According to a 2024 report from the Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, the state’s energy demands are projected to double over the next decade, chiefly due to data centers and the substantial infrastructure required to cater to this demand.

The report also indicated that while Virginia’s electricity pricing structures are “appropriately” aligned with facility usage, “energy costs for all consumers are likely to rise” to cover new infrastructure expenses and necessary electricity imports. Earlier this month, Virginia’s public utility regulators approved a rise in electricity rates, though not to the extent Dominion Energy, the state’s primary provider, initially requested.

“The costs tied to infrastructure—the extensive transmission lines and substations—are being passed down to consumers,” McAuliffe explained from a co-working space in Middleburg, Virginia, where his campaign operates.

“These essentially represent taxes that we’ve wrongfully placed on ordinary Virginians to benefit corporations like Amazon and Google. While there may be some advantages for these communities, these companies are capable of affording them, and we must strive to better negotiate those benefits.”

McAuliffe’s opponent was Republican Geary Higgins, who had been elected in 2023. The battle between the two parties proved costly, with Democrats investing nearly $3 million and their adversaries spending just over $850,000, according to records from the Virginia Public Access Project.

This campaign encompassed more than just data centers; McAuliffe also spotlighted reproductive rights and teacher salary increases. Democrats have committed to codifying access to abortion if they gain full power in Virginia’s state government, and the governance in his district deteriorated under Democratic Party criticisms that Higgins failed to return contributions from controversial politicians.

Yet, McAuliffe chose to concentrate on data centers, believing their impacts presented “the most pressing issue we can address.” This focus surprised some of his consultants, and although he acknowledged it was a “somewhat niche topic,” data centers frequently emerged as a primary concern during his door-to-door visits.

To counter Higgins, his campaign even launched a website called data center geary, attempting to associate the Republican (a former Loudoun County Supervisor) with the spread of these facilities. Higgins and his family and allies condemned the efforts as misleading.

Mr. McAuliffe ultimately won with 50.9% of the votes, while Mr. Higgins gathered 49%. In response to a request for an interview, Higgins stated that McAuliffe’s “entire campaign was based on falsehoods regarding me and my history.”

“Thanks to an influx of external funding and high Democratic turnout, he was able to fabricate a misleading caricature of me and narrowly triumph,” Higgins remarked.

As Mr. Trump faced the polls nationwide last year, voters in conservative rural and suburban areas turned away from Democrats, resulting in the party’s loss of the presidency and Congressional control. McAuliffe’s victory leaves some party leaders pondering the lessons Democrats can glean from his campaign.

“In typically red regions, he identified common issues that resonated with both Republicans and Democrats while making a convincing case for solutions,” noted Democratic Rep. Suhas Subrahmanyam, who represents McAuliffe’s district.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin, who campaigned alongside McAuliffe, characterized him as “an extraordinary candidate who triumphed by focusing squarely on the relevant issues of his district.”

“Democrats are capable of winning in any setting, especially in suburbs and rural environments, when they have candidates who commit themselves to addressing the genuine needs of their community. Presently, what Americans require is the capability to manage their expenses,” stated Martin.

Chaz Natticomb, founder and executive director of Virginia’s nonpartisan election monitoring organization State Navigate, remarked that while McAuliffe may not have surpassed Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s standout gubernatorial victory, his success in garnering votes illustrates his appeal to some Republicans over Higgins.

“He outperformed everyone else, primarily because he gained the support of Republican-leaning voters,” Natticombe concluded.