Sep 1, 2026 - Politics

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Hatley bashes data centers in campaign ad

Nate Rau

Tennessee gubernatorial candidate David Hatley — Photo: courtesy of the Hatley campaign

Independent gubernatorial candidate David Hatley kicked off his general election campaign with a statewide TV ad that taps into the anti-data center uproar.

Why it matters: From Memphis to Knoxville, regulating data centers has become a hot-button issue in Tennessee.

State of play: Hatley, an entrepreneur with a successful manufacturing business, is running as an underdog against Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican favorite, and Memphis City Councilmember Jerri Green, the Democrat.

Zoom in: Hatley's ad, which began airing statewide on Aug. 21, criticizes the expansion of data centers and surveillance cameras, which have been highly controversial across Tennessee.

"Politicians have put Tennessee in a mess," he says in the ad. "Data centers expanding, cameras watching us everywhere, no transparency."

The intrigue: Hatley's campaign leans heavily on social media.

Two of his recent videos generated millions of views as he tries to introduce himself to voters.

Reality check: Independent candidates always face long odds in statewide elections, and Republicans have been on a two-decade tear at winning major races in Tennessee.

Watch the full ad

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Tennessee gubernatorial candidate Hatley bashes data centers in campaign ad

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