Data centers dominate House District 21 race between Thomas and Gorham

In Northern Virginia, a closely watched House of Delegates race is centered on how candidates plan to rein in the state’s booming data center industry and meet its soaring energy demands.

House District 21, largely anchored in Prince William County, is currently held by incumbent Democratic Del. Josh Thomas, who faces a challenge from Republican Gregory Lee Gorham. Both candidates have made data center reforms a key campaign issue alongside other local priorities.

The district leans Democratic: most voters backed Kamala Harris in 2024 and Hillary Clinton in 2016. However, Gov. Glenn Youngkin carried the district with 51.4% in 2021, and the Virginia Public Access Project rates it as competitive. Thomas has a commanding fundraising advantage, raising more than $740,000 compared to Gorham’s $20,000.

Gorham, also a veteran and a retired IT professional, has been an active member of the Prince William County GOP. He’s lived in the area for 25 years and is passionate about the history of the area and representing his community family in the area. He told the Prince William Reporter that he decided to ensure the district’s priorities are better represented in the General Assembly. Gorham did not respond to multiple requests from the Virginia Mercury for a one-on-one interview about his campaign.

“I think my constituents want to see accomplishments, not party-line platitudes,” Gorham said.

Data Centers

House District 21 is home to dozens of data centers. While the county benefits from the tax revenue the industry brings, residents have raised concerns about water use, high-voltage transmission lines, and facilities being built near homes and businesses.

During the regular 2025 session, Thomas sponsored House Bill 1601, which would have required data center applicants to complete a site assessment detailing expected sound pollution and projected water and energy demands for the high load facilities. Youngkin ultimately vetoed that bill. Thomas said his goal wasn’t to hinder the industry but to set clearer guardrails for local communities.

“Other bills that I’ve had were trying to be more transparent about whether we’ll have the energy for data centers,” Thomas said. “Clean energy for data centers was not going to kill the industry at all. It was just going to make sure we’re doing something about the energy draw that data centers represent to our energy needs, no matter where you build in the state.”

Gorham said controlling data center sprawl is one of his top priorities. He argued that Thomas’ bill did not go far enough to make a real difference.

“There are many other ways to force data center developers to make better proposals by making it more expensive not to make smarter proposals,” Gorham told a reporter. “Smarter tax laws, target industry tax overlay districts, choice of residential power suppliers, better environmental ordinance tools for localities to choose from, taking control from Richmond, need to be implemented.”

Thomas said he is in favor of changing the rate payer distribution system for data centers to ensure they are covering some of the infrastructure costs when it comes to transmission lines and the debate over if they should remain above ground or buried, which is a much more expensive option.