Birddogging: Engaging Candidates on Data Center Issues - Virtual Register

Date and Time:
Thu, Sep 3, 2026; 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM  (Central)

Organized By: Iowa Chapter

Location: Virtual

Birddogging: Engaging Candidates on Data Center Issues
September 3rd @ 6:30PM
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Elected officials and candidates hear from countless people every day. When constituents consistently show up, ask questions, and make their concerns known, it sends a powerful message: these issues matter to voters! One effective way to engage candidates is through birddogging, attending public events where candidates are speaking and asking thoughtful, direct questions about the issues that matter to our communities.

What We’ll Cover

• Identifying events to birddog - Find opportunities like forums, debates, town halls, and meet-and-greets.
• Preparing and practicing - Develop effective questions, research candidates, and practice speaking up with confidence.
• Asking your question - Learn how to get your question asked and keep the focus on the issue.
• Follow-up - Learn how to continue the conversation with candidates after an event.
• Sample questions to ask - Explore questions about data centers, water, energy, utility costs, and community protections.
• Next steps - Identify opportunities to put these skills into action and keep data center issues in front of candidates and voters.

The goal is simple: make sure candidates know that data centers, our water, our energy, and our communities matter to voters. Whether you’ve participated in birddogging before or have never heard the term, this is an opportunity to learn how you can take action and help make data center development an important part of the public conversation. Make sure to invite your friends, family and neighbors! We can't wait to see!