Cumberland County Democratic Chair Slams Republican Candidates for Taking Dark Money Linked to Data Center Industry

McCann Calls on Taylor, Marchand and Sauro to Return Campaign Support Connected to Trump-Aligned Dark Money Organization

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NJ — Cumberland County Democratic Chairman Kevin P. McCann today sharply criticized Republican County Commissioner candidates Sandra Taylor, Art Marchand and James Sauro over campaign funding connected to Securing American Greatness, a powerful Trump-aligned dark money organization with financial ties to the technology industry serving AI data centers.

McCann released official New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) documents showing that Securing American Greatness contributed $79,000 to the Cumberland County Regular Republican Organization in late 2025. The contribution was reported in a supplemental filing along with three other contributions on October 24,2025.

Additional ELEC filings show that the county Republican organization has provided $48,291.53 in in-kind campaign support to the Taylor, Marchand and Sauro campaign during the 2026 election cycle.

“This isn’t some $50 political contribution,” McCann said. “We’re talking about a $79,000 contribution from a national dark money organization, followed by nearly $50,000 in support for three Republican candidates who have serious questions to answer about the DataOne controversy.”

“People throughout Cumberland County are scratching their heads wondering how the massive DataOne project in Vineland was able to move forward with so little apparent scrutiny. Now we’re learning about this extraordinary flow of political money, and residents have every right to demand answers.”

Securing American Greatness was established in March 2024 by allies of President Donald Trump, including former White House officials. The organization reported more than $274 million in revenue in 2024 alone, while keeping most of its contributors’ identities secret.

One publicly identified contributor is Qualcomm, the global technology company that develops advanced processors, Al computing hardware and high-speed optical connectivity products used in modern AI data centers.

According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Qualcomm voluntarily disclosed a $1 million contribution to Securing American Greatness made between September 2024 and March 2025.

“Dark money organizations allow wealthy donors and powerful special interests to pour enormous sums into political campaigns while keeping the public in the dark about who is providing the money,” McCann said.

“That should concern every taxpayer in Cumberland County, especially when we’re dealing with an industry facing serious questions about environmental protection, public accountability and the use of our natural resources.”

The controversy comes as DataOne’s massive Vineland data center faces significant environmental enforcement action.

In September, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection assessed a $1.07 million penalty against DataOne after inspectors discovered that 62 large natural-gas generators had been installed and operated without the required state air pollution permits.

The enforcement action was described by state officials as the largest ever taken against a data center in New Jersey.

“Think about the timing and the circumstances,” McCann continued. “A controversial data center moves forward in Cumberland County. State regulators discover serious environmental violations. And now we find that the Republican political organization supporting Taylor, Marchand and Sauro accepted $79,000 from a secretive national political operation with a publicly disclosed donor doing business in the AI data center industry.”

“At the very least, this raises serious questions about political influence, transparency and accountability. Cumberland County residents deserve answers.”

McCann called on the Cumberland County Republican organization and the Taylor, Marchand and Sauro campaign to publicly account for the contributions and return the financial support connected to Securing American Greatness.

“If Sandra Taylor, Art Marchand and James Sauro want the public to believe they represent the people of Cumberland County and not powerful outside interests, here’s their opportunity to prove it,” McCann concluded.

“Give the money back. Tell the public who is behind it. And explain why Cumberland County residents should trust you to protect their interests.”