NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s gubernatorial campaign has received more than $121,000 in contributions from employees and leaders connected to artificial intelligence companies, according to newly filed Tennessee campaign finance records.
The latest campaign finance report, filed Friday, shows Blackburn received a combined $121,352.54 from individuals affiliated with AI-focused companies and organizations. The contributions come as Blackburn, the Republican frontrunner in Tennessee’s governor’s race, continues to advocate for data centers as a driver of economic growth while also calling for thoughtful planning around future development.
The largest share of the donations came from employees of Anthropic and Oracle, which together accounted for $94,852.54. Records show Anthropic employees contributed roughly $53,000, while Oracle employees donated $41,852.54.
Among those contributors was Oracle CEO Clayton Magouyrk, who made two separate donations, one to Blackburn’s primary campaign and another to her general election campaign. Several donors gave $5,300, the maximum amount an individual can contribute to a statewide candidate in Tennessee. Some contributors reached that maximum twice through separate donations designated for primary and general election efforts.
Oracle has significant ties to Tennessee. In 2024, the software giant announced Nashville would serve as its new world headquarters, further cementing the company’s presence in the state.
Additional AI-related donations identified in the filing include $10,600 from a researcher with the AI Futures Project, $10,600 from a policy director with the Secure AI Project, and $5,300 from Darwin AI CEO Noam Maital. Those donations brought the total AI-connected contributions above the $121,000 mark.
The donations arrive amid an ongoing debate over data center development across Tennessee. AI companies often rely on data centers to process and store large amounts of information, making the facilities a critical part of the industry’s expansion.
Last month, Blackburn weighed in on controversy surrounding a proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo. In a June 13 social media post, she described data centers as an important component of Tennessee’s future economy but said communities and state leaders should carefully evaluate where they are located.
“Data centers are going to be a good and important part of Tennessee’s economic growth, but we’ve got to be thoughtful about their placement,” Blackburn said.
She added that many Tennessee communities have expressed interest in hosting data centers because of the jobs and economic investment they can bring.
Despite support from some local leaders and economic development officials, opposition to large-scale data centers has grown in several parts of the state. Critics have raised concerns about land use, infrastructure demands, environmental impacts, and energy consumption.
In East Tennessee, local governments have already taken action. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon has called for a pause on large data center development, while the Knox County Commission approved a one-year moratorium on new data centers as officials work to develop regulations governing future projects.
As Blackburn’s campaign gains financial backing from individuals connected to the AI industry, the debate over how and where Tennessee should accommodate data center growth is likely to remain a major issue in the race for governor.
