<div><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/06/24/multimedia/24nat-utah-data-1-cjlq/24nat-utah-data-1-cjlq-facebookJumbo.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div><p id="article-summary" class="css-1r45aqf evqizr60">The Utah State Senate president who backed a large data center project near the Great Salt Lake was defeated in his Republican primary, illustrating voter backlash over data center development and its perceived environmental and transparency concerns.</p><section name="articleBody" class="meteredContent css-1a6yhas" data-paywall-inert><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-0"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The president of the Utah State Senate, who championed the Stratos data center project, lost his primary race amid broad voter backlash to data-center developments.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The defeat of a longtime, influential figure highlighted concerns about energy and water use, local tax incentives, and government transparency related to the project backed by a celebrity investor.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The defeated senator did not directly represent the project site, a 40,000-acre area in Box Elder County, but chaired a state agency that approved early plans for the center.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Local discussions centered on the potential impact on water resources and drought conditions, with supporters citing economic benefits and local government revenue.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-1"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-1"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Voters, including many Republicans and members of the state’s faith community, voiced concerns at public meetings and in comments about energy consumption, water usage, and perceived preferences shown to the project by officials.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Two county officials who voted to advance the project were also narrowly trailing in their primaries, underscoring local electoral pressure related to Stratos.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Supporters argue the project would generate thousands of jobs, attract revenue for local governments, secure power, and potentially contribute water to the Great Salt Lake.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-3"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-2"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The defeated senator acknowledged the election results while claiming a record of policy support for Utah’s growth and families. His opponent, Stephanie Hollist, emphasized that voters felt underrepresented and signaled expectations for future governance changes.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Hollist is expected to win the November general election in the district, which is heavily Republican, and the state will appoint a new Senate president if she takes office.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">The broader debate over data centers has influenced other local elections nationwide, with supporters highlighting economic benefits and opponents criticizing environmental impacts and transparency concerns.</p></div></div><div data-testid="Dropzone-5"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" data-testid="companionColumn-3"><div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Earlier entries highlighted recent local outcomes where data-center proposals faced electoral pushback, and reportage noted shifts in tone from proponents as the Utah primary approached. The Stratos project has not yet broken ground and requires further review.</p><p class="css-140ip4z e1me5xab0">Campaign materials used imagery related to the data center and a controversial depiction of the investor in a mocked “Shark Tank” context. Reporting also noted the involvement of multiple outlets in coverage.</p></div></div><p><strong>The article notes ongoing national attention to data-center projects and their political implications.</strong></p></section>
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