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By Ella Aguilar – Published on June 3rd, 2026 @ Palmyra Spectator

NEW FLORENCE, Mo. — Governor Mike Kehoe’s announcement of a $15 billion Google data center investment in neighboring Montgomery County is drawing mixed reactions from congressional candidates vying to represent Marion County and District 6, revealing a split among local leaders over economic development versus community protection.

The project, which Kehoe celebrated on May 20 in New Florence, stands for one of the largest private investments in Missouri history. Google plans to build a $15 billion data center spanning 200 acres, promising thousands of construction jobs and long-term employment opportunities, along with a $20 million energy affordability fund for residents.

The Candidates’ Positions

Cody Oshel, running for Congress in District 6, offered a measured response that tries to balance economic opportunity with local safeguards. “Missouri has an opportunity to lead in the next generation economy, and projects like this can bring jobs, investment, and long-term growth,” Oshel said. “But economic development has to work for the people who already call these communities home.”

Nick Miller, running for the Missouri State Senate, said he welcomes investment but believes large-scale projects must come with stronger community protections. “I’m always glad to see investment, jobs, and technology come to Missouri, but development at this scale has to serve the people who live here first,” Miller said. He added that communities should have “a real final say” before major projects are approved and said current safeguards “do not go far enough to protect local resources, utility customers, or taxpayers from long-term risk.” Miller also said Missouri should look for ways to pair large energy users with clean local power and rural economic opportunities such as biomass generation and waste-heat grain drying.

Oshel emphasized transparency and fiscal responsibility, saying companies “should succeed on the strength of their investment, not through special tax abatements.” He also raised concerns about Missouri’s rural identity, adding that “growth should create stronger communities, good jobs, and lasting opportunity without sacrificing the values and resources that make Missouri unique.”

Andy Maidment, also a candidate for Congress in Missouri’s 6th District, struck a similar mindset as Oshel, stating, “As an ardent free-market advocate, I always appreciate a company being willing to invest in our communities. I believe that anyone should be able to use their property for whatever purpose they wish, so long as it does not harm others.” Maidment, however, did go on a similar note to other candidates regarding the tax deals. “What I do not appreciate is the central planners in government picking winners and losers by providing sweetheart tax deals. Every company, no matter how large or small, should be provided with the same playing field as every other. I appreciate Google using air cooling and building infrastructure to keep electricity prices down, but a company worth nearly $4.6 trillion does not need to be given special treatment. Governor Kehoe should be more concerned with making sure Missouri is competitive with other states without such deals. If these kinds of deals were not so common, then taxes could be lowered, or even eliminated, for everyone.”

Dusty Blue, also running for the Missouri State Senate, struck a more forceful tone in criticizing the deal. “Big Tech is coming into our rural communities, taking advantage of massive tax abatements and putting strain on our power supply while Missourians get no relief,” Blue said. He said the new Google data center has been offered a “70% personal property tax abatement” and argued that everyday Missourians should not be asked to shoulder the costs. Blue also said, “I won’t let the everyday people get taken advantage of,” if elected.

Josh Smead, running for Congress in Missouri’s 6th District, stated, “At a time when working families are struggling to afford groceries, fuel, and medicine, our government is handing massive utility incentives to billion-dollar corporations to build data centers in rural Missouri.” Smead emphasized focusing on the people of Missouri rather than on the large companies and corporations that use Missouri’s land, “The result will be higher utility costs for working people while giant corporations avoid paying what they owe. Another example of big corporations not paying their fair share while working families foot the bill.”

John Leykamp, running for State Senate, struck a more critical tone. “It seems Governor Kehoe continues to be more concerned about taking care of the wealthy than the concerns of the local communities,” Leykamp said. He specifically questioned the environmental trade-offs, noting that “the high amount of electrical and groundwater usage seems to be ignored for profit.”

Tommy Holstein, running for Congress in District 3, delivered the sharpest criticism, directly referencing recent local backlash against data center projects elsewhere in the state. “It is irresponsible and concerning for Governor Mike Kehoe to be celebrating this new partnership while thousands of citizens across my district have been showing up to public meetings specifically rallying against building new data centers,” Holstein said.

Holstein pointed to recent events in Festus, where voters ousted half the city council over a data center agreement, and St. Charles, which enacted a ban on data center construction following packed public meetings. “We need to protect our water and farmland, not further line the pockets of tech billionaires,” Holstein said, urging Kehoe to “reevaluate this decision and partnership, start listening to the wishes of Missourians, and pay close attention to what happened to Festus’ city council.”

What This Means for Marion County

While the facility will be in Montgomery County, Marion County residents could face several direct consequences.

Precedent for Local Development: Marion County currently has no proposed data center
projects, but the Google deal provides a template for how these projects move forward. County commissioners may soon face similar proposals with non-disclosure agreements limiting public input. If Montgomery County approved significant tax abatements, Marion County could face pressure to offer comparable incentives to attract development, potentially eroding the local tax base that funds schools and services.

Water and Agricultural Impact: Marion County’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, which depends on stable water access. With both counties drawing from interconnected groundwater systems, increased demand in Montgomery County could affect water table levels in Marion County, particularly during dry seasons when irrigation needs peak.

Workforce Competition: Marion County employers, already facing workforce shortages, may lose construction workers to the Google project temporarily, or see skilled trades permanently drawn to higher-paying positions in Montgomery County. While some Marion County residents may commute for these jobs, the long-term employment at data centers is typically modest compared to the construction phase.

Energy Costs: The facility’s massive power demands could contribute to regional rate increases that affect Marion County homes and businesses, particularly if infrastructure upgrades are needed to support the load.

What This Means for Voters

The divergent positions offer District 6 voters a clear contrast in approaches to economic
development. Oshel stands for a middle path that welcomes investment while demanding accountability; Leykamp and Holstein align with the growing “local control” movement that has seen Missouri communities reject or restrict data center projects.

With the election approaching, voters will decide which vision, aggressive economic recruitment with safeguards, or community-first skepticism of big-tech development, best stands for their priorities for Marion County’s future.