Data Center Backlash Reshapes US Midterm Elections

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure has become a contentious issue in the 2026 US midterm elections, forcing Republican and Democratic candidates to reconsider their positions on large data centers. Across several states, campaigns are promising restrictions as residents raise concerns about electricity bills, noise, property values and pressure on local resources, creating a political challenge for President Donald Trump and his allies.

Cleanview Research data cited by CBS News show that 68% of operational data centers were located in Republican-leaning states by 2025. The concentration has grown further, with 75% of facilities under construction and 80% of planned projects situated in predominantly Republican states.

Opposition has spread beyond traditional party divisions. A Fox News national poll conducted the previous month found that 71% of voters opposed building AI data centers in their communities, including 46% who strongly opposed the development. Meanwhile, 52% supported placing the facilities in remote locations, compared with 44% who opposed that approach.

Chris Millay, a data center analyst at the macroeconomic consultancy Greenmantle, attributed the concentration of projects in Republican-led states partly to their history of accepting energy-intensive infrastructure, availability of land and relatively limited environmental regulation.

"Red states have more of a history of accepting large, energy intensive, infrastructure projects — even those that might have detrimental effects on communities," said Chris Millay, a data center analyst at Greenmantle.

Millay also warned that public resistance could create electoral risks for politicians supporting new facilities.

"It's such a consensus issue it's really impossible to take the other side," said Millay. "When voters see a politician who supports data centers, they think, 'Well, how am I going to trust him with my job?'"

Trump has defended data center development as essential to the economy and national security, arguing that restrictive policies could allow China to gain an advantage in artificial intelligence.

At an Ohio rally, Trump defended the financial opportunities associated with the projects.

"We want them … look, there's so much money to be made for Ohio — you can't just turn them off. They'll go to China," said Trump, referring to data centers.

In a separate Truth Social post, Trump dismissed local opposition to the facilities.

"The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor," Trump wrote.

Despite the administration's support, candidates in competitive races have increasingly backed limits on development. According to research cited by WIRED, at least 20 candidates in the 36 gubernatorial races have promised some form of data center moratorium if elected. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a hyperscale data center moratorium in July.

Texas illustrates the shift within Republican politics. Gov. Greg Abbott, who previously encouraged major technology investments, has paused environmental permits and electricity grid connections for new data centers while an audit proceeds. Abbott is seeking a fourth term against Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa, who argues that stronger regulation is necessary.

In the Texas Senate race, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has proposed ending the state's sales tax exemption for data centers. He has also argued that operators should face criminal liability if they power AI chatbots that endanger children.

Ohio has emerged as another major battleground. According to Fox News, the state has 20 data center-related ballot measures across 17 jurisdictions, accounting for more than half of the 34 measures scheduled across seven states. These proposals include local construction moratoriums and zoning changes.

Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown has criticized Republican Sen. Jon Husted over his support for data center development, arguing that the projects contribute to rising household energy costs.

In an August memo cited by WIRED, the National Republican Senatorial Committee warned that Brown's attacks could threaten Husted's reelection prospects, describing the issue as "a sleeper issue for the entire election cycle."

Brown's campaign has portrayed Husted as "the face of data centers in Ohio," while Senate Democrats opposed legislation sponsored by Husted and modeled on the White House's ratepayer protection pledge. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the proposal as "toothless."

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has taken an even tougher position on proposed facilities in Ohio, promising immediate restrictions if elected.

"I am calling on our Statehouse to pass a conditional moratorium on data centers," said Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton in a press release.

Ramaswamy has promised to suspend approvals until lawmakers pass legislation requiring data centers to provide free electricity to nearby residents. In Wisconsin, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany has attacked Democratic opponent David Crowley with the label "Data Center David," although both candidates support restrictions on the industry.

Georgia presents a different approach. Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson supports leaving decisions about data center development to local officials, while Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms has called for a temporary construction moratorium. Campaign advertising mentioning data centers has reached nearly $13 million in Georgia, according to CBS News.

Across the country, campaigns have spent $45 million on advertisements mentioning data centers this year, according to AdImpact, with most of the ads opposing their development. The facilities are also emerging as an issue in competitive Senate races in Michigan, Iowa and Texas, while voters in eight states are considering more than 30 local ballot measures.

The Fox News poll also found that 60% of voters viewed artificial intelligence negatively, compared with 37% who viewed it positively. The 23-point gap had more than doubled since the outlet's July poll, highlighting the growing public unease surrounding the technology and the infrastructure needed to support it.