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Significant Electoral Shifts in Data Centre Policies
It was a tumultuous evening for data centres across the United States, particularly in Ohio, where Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown emerged victorious. For months, Brown had been campaigning against his opponent, branding him as “the face of data centres in Ohio.” His success represents a considerable setback for Republicans, who lost a seat in the Senate.
In New Hampshire, Democratic candidate Chris Pappas also claimed victory, marking a historic moment as he became the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. During his acceptance speech, Pappas voiced his opposition to the construction of data centres, which elicited enthusiastic applause from his supporters, despite there being no significant data centre projects underway in the state.
Meanwhile, two Republican candidates, both named Derek, faced defeat in their respective races for the House of Representatives in Ohio and Wisconsin. Their opponents had mockingly referred to them as “Derek of the data centre” and “Derrick of the data centre,” highlighting the negative sentiment surrounding the industry.
Voter Sentiment Against Data Centre Expansion
The results reflected a strong voter preference for candidates advocating stringent regulations on data centres across all levels of government, signalling a clear rebuke to the industry’s expansion efforts nationwide. Nearly a quarter of voters indicated that data centres significantly influenced their voting decisions, with almost two-thirds considering it an important or secondary factor.
Greg Casar, a Democratic Congressman from Texas, remarked on the significance of this electoral shift, stating, “The backlash against data centres was a central theme of the 2026 elections, and in coming years, we will remember it as the first major movement since AI that disrupted American politics.” He noted that many voters associate data centres with broader concerns about artificial intelligence and its implications.
Alexander McCoy, a Democratic strategist focused on AI, echoed these sentiments, explaining that regardless of how issues such as energy consumption, noise, or pollution are addressed, significant concerns remain about the societal effects of these projects, particularly regarding job opportunities and economic impacts.
Unexpected Outcomes in Gubernatorial Elections
The gubernatorial elections also yielded surprising outcomes for the data centre sector. In unexpected turns, Democratic candidates Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia and Gina Hinojosa in Texas were elected, while Cindy Holscher came close to winning in Kansas. Each of these candidates campaigned for increased regulation and even moratoriums on data centre constructions. A halt on new data centre projects, especially in Texas and Georgia—two of the largest development hubs in the country—could have serious repercussions for numerous planned initiatives in those states.
McCoy suggested that the era of favourable tax exemptions might come to an end, noting that individuals like Texas Governor Greg Abbott could suffer politically due to their history of granting financial incentives to AI companies and data centre developers. He anticipates a shift towards appointing regulators who will impose stricter oversight on these projects, along with heightened enforcement of environmental protection regulations.
The Repercussions of Data Centre Opposition
However, voicing opposition to data centres did not guarantee success for all candidates, particularly Republicans. In Wisconsin, Republican Tom Tiffany lost his gubernatorial race after initially attacking Democratic opponent David Crowley with advertisements labelling him “David Crowley, the data centre guy.” Crowley adopted a more stringent stance against the industry as the campaign progressed, ultimately advocating for a pause on new data centre constructions.
A similar narrative unfolded in New York’s 17th district, where Republican Congressman Mike Lawler lost to Democrat Cait Conley after running ads criticising her previous statements advocating for data centre development. As the campaign unfolded, data centres emerged as a bipartisan concern, revealing divisions within the parties themselves.
Voter Demand for Accountability and Regulation
In the lead-up to the elections, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released advertisements highlighting Republican support for data centres and their affiliations with major AI corporations. Sacha Haworth, director of the Tech Oversight Project, commented, “Voters are not naive. The story of data centres is one of corruption and the influence of tech CEOs, which resonated with voters as they cast their ballots.”
Many candidates who successfully advocated tighter regulations on data centres triumphed despite substantial financial backing from the AI and data centre sectors for their opponents. In South Carolina, the newly formed super PAC, Building the Future, spent $1.5 million supporting Republican Darline Graham, who ultimately lost to Democrat Annie Andrews, a proponent of a moratorium. Andrews even registered the URL DataCenterDarline.com to criticize Graham’s ties to the industry. The PAC also invested heavily in the Kansas gubernatorial race to bolster Republican Ty Masterson against Cindy Holscher.
Community Concerns Reflected in Ballot Initiatives
In Michigan, Democratic candidate Will Lawrence, who prioritised regulation of AI and data centres in his campaign, won against Republican Tom Barrett in one of the most expensive races in the nation. Barrett received significant financial support from Elon Musk’s America PAC, yet Lawrence’s message resonated with voters, particularly those concerned about the implications of data centres.
Polling data from nine states revealed widespread voter rejection of future data centre construction plans, approval of moratoriums, and demands for increased community consultation and accountability. In total, ten states included over 40 questions related to data centres on local ballots, with 21 occurring in Ohio alone. The questions ranged from outright moratoriums to urban rezoning issues and development restrictions. Only one county appeared to permit increased data centre development on its ballot, according to Brad Carson, president of Americans for Responsible Innovation, who closely monitored the election results.
Industry Response to Changing Political Climate
Technology companies are beginning to sense the shifting landscape. On the day of the midterm elections, reports emerged of environmental groups and major tech firms collaborating to create a framework for the responsible development of data centres. McCoy views this collaboration as a necessary evolution in the industry’s approach.
As the election results unfolded, Elon Musk took to social media platform X, commenting, “Data centres in space seem quite appealing at this moment.”
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