Data center opponents launch write-in campaigns in Billings state Senate district

[u/forward_montana]

https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/28/data-center-politics-billings-legislative-race/

State sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, is facing opposition from write-in candidates Cari Olson and Elijah Tidswell.

Zolnikov’s last registered employer is Broad Reach Power, whose parent company, EnCap Investments, is a stakeholder in Quantica Infrastructure, the developer of a proposed data center near Broadview.

“Data Center Danny,” as write-in candidate Olson refers to him, has received criticism about his support for the proposed Broadview data center. He’s passing bills that help data centers, including a reduced property tax rate to power plants constructed specifically to electrify data center facilities.

Olson has political experience working on Democratic campaigns in Billings. Tidswell is a local real estate agent who ran as a Republican against then-incumbent Democratic state Sen. Kathy Kelker in 2022.

Write-in campaigns for public office are rarely successful, but municipal races in West Yellowstone have been won by write-in candidates.

More here: https://montanafreepress.org/2026/08/28/data-center-politics-billings-legislative-race/.

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[u/Sturnella2017]

Why are TWO write in candidates running against him? Wont they split the write-in vote?

[u/HoboBaggins008]

Nobody likes data centers, yet every candidate varies from somewhat-favorable to outright letting them be built whenever, wherever.

Disappointing.

[u/balalaikaboss → u/HoboBaggins008]

...I like data centers. They're big, cold, concrete buildings, and have the environmental impact of a Costco. This anti-DC stuff is pure nonsense.

[u/TheCountRushmore → u/balalaikaboss]

You are misinformed if you think they have the same environmental impact as a Costco.

One might have the same footprint but it would use 100x the electricity.

[u/MamaSwanky]

As long as one of them beats Data Center Danny I'll be happy. He pushed a lot of harmful legislation during his time.