Beth Macy

“It’s the idea that this thing was done to people without their knowledge,”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy draws a parallel between the opioid crisis and the data center issue, saying both were done to people without their knowledge.

“I think the trades are going to become highly coveted and you’re going to see people who might have gone to college or come from wealthier families go after the trade jobs. So I’m calling for free community college, and I think Google or all these data center companies should be paying for that.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy argues that trades jobs will become highly coveted due to AI and calls for free community college funded by data center companies.

“They’re feeling the pain and they’re getting to know me a little bit ... I know what it’s like to worry that the electricity is going to get cut off, or might go hungry and eat government cheese, or my grandmother accepting food stamps.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

At a fundraiser on a horse ranch, Macy says Virginia voters who might have been resistant are loosening up as they feel economic pain and get to know her.

“We’ve got to talk about that stuff,”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy argues Democrats need to talk about what they got wrong, including NAFTA and the Communications Decency Act of 1996.

“It was wide open and they sent Kamala [Harris] down there, or she was supposed to,”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy acknowledges that Democrats mishandled the border, saying it was wide open.

“and we haven’t renewed immigration since 1996. We’ve got to have a solid H-2A program (for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs) for folks. I’ve done a lot of solid reporting on tobacco workers who would love to go home once a year.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy calls for a solid H-2A program for temporary agricultural workers, citing her past reporting on tobacco workers.

“Hey I’m Beth and I’m running for Congress.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy introduces herself on camera in social media videos featuring local residents telling their stories.

“It’s just like when Purdue Pharma told doctors and conned congressmen with nice checks that their drug wasn’t addictive. It’s the same thing … they occluded the fact of the matter and how people were going to be hurt.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy compares the data center issue to Purdue Pharma's deception about Oxycontin's addictiveness.

“to protect our jobs, our land, our electricity, our water, because it’s moving so fast now it’s endangering all of us.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy calls for a moratorium on data centers until an AI czar can be found to protect jobs, land, electricity, and water.

“Only relatively recently did the people of Botetourt even find out they were doing it.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy points to a multi-building data center campus being built on a 312-acre site in Botetourt County, Virginia.

“What I’ve tried to do is amplify the voices of people like me who don’t grow up with everything handed to them. He got out of that, went to Yale, became a venture capitalist, a senator and now the vice president, and now wants to yank up the ladder behind him,”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy contrasts her work amplifying working-class voices with Vance's path from Yale to venture capitalism to the vice presidency.

“If it’s enough, I don’t know.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy expresses uncertainty about whether her canvassing approach will be enough to win over voters.

“It’s been really effective because it show the real issues that people care about and people who are independent or moderate Republican who are maybe changing their mind and starting to cross over …”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy describes the effectiveness of her social media videos showing real issues voters care about.

“I hate that comparison. I’m my own person, I’m not JD Vance. I’m 20 years older than he is. It’s not the exact same part of Ohio. He grew up with addiction and poverty. Okay, I’ll take that. Tough grandma, I’ll take that. But he mocked poor people for being poor and said it was a lack of masculinity and a lack of thrift. I would never blame poor people for their poverty.”

Beth Macy · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-26

Macy rejects comparisons to JD Vance, criticizing Vance for mocking poor people and blaming them for their poverty.