AI Data Centers Spark Bipartisan Political Backlash as Midterm Elections Loom
30 Sources
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Candidates Are Signing a Pact Promising Action on Data Centers and AI Safety
Dan Osborn was finishing up his fourth town hall last Sunday, he says, when a "hardcore MAGA" guy approached him. Osborn, who is running for the US Senate in Nebraska as an independent against Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts, said that he and the man didn't have much common ground -- at
[2]
Trump keeps embracing data centers even as they become toxic in midterm races
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump, speaking alongside cryptocurrency leaders at the White House this week, made a statement that Republican and Democratic candidates alike wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. "If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to
[3]
AI data center outrage is showing up everywhere from ads to elections
* With less than three months until the midterm elections, opposition to AI data centers is becoming a bipartisan rallying cry in a growing number of states. * On a major primary election day, a pair of beverage companies seized on data center opposition and released a satirical ad about the
[4]
The EPA's Response to AI Data Center Backlash: Keep Building, but Keep It Hush-Hush
Americans' antipathy towards AI data centers has become as noisy and impossible for politicians to ignore as the sprawling, humming, resource-guzzling facilities themselves. But rather than conceding that communities are justified in their opposition to the power hubs of the AI boom, the Trump
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Ken Paxton unveils anti-data center plan as GOP voter anger mounts in Texas
A "no data center" sign that will go alongside a county road next to the proposed Crusoe Technologies data center in Jewett, Texas. (Antranik Tavitian/For The Washington Post) HOUSTON -- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a "data center plan" Monday that included proposing federal
[6]
States are starting to ban the secrecy behind AI data centers
AI data centers have quietly been built behind NDAs, shell companies and code names; now states are pushing back We talk a lot about what AI can do, but not enough about where all that AI actually lives. ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and the countless other AI tools that have appeared over the past few
[7]
Trump warns communities opposed to data centers are "making a mistake" -- but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott data centers "got the backlash they deserve
Trump really wants people to like AI data centers, regardless of pollution and noise * Anti-AI sentiment and data center opposition is rising, and communities are costing tech firms billions with their opposition * Trump says communities opposed to data centers are "making a mistake", and calls
[8]
2028 Dems dodge on Bernie's push to pause AI development
* Some Democratic strategists fear the party will be caught flat-footed on the issue in 2028 as a result. * Meanwhile, many Republicans -- and some Democrats -- have been whipsawed on AI, and now are trying to prove their anti-AI bona fides after having cozied up to top AI companies and their
[9]
The GOP'S Data Center Panic
Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. Sign Up By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Not even a year ago, state leaders of all stripes were clamoring for data centers, the A.I.-warehouses of the future. Incentives here.
[10]
The data-center backlash has broken into the midterms but the industry's problem is larger than communications: America needs a new bargain | Fortune
Opposition to AI data centers is scrambling midterm races from Ohio to Wyoming. Candidates in both parties are distancing themselves from projects their leaders once courted. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro removed AI data centers from the state's fast-track program, which coordinates agency
[11]
Texas Governor Suddenly Turns on Data Centers as Backlash Grows
Can't-miss innovations from the bleeding edge of science and tech As the bipartisan hate for data centers continues to grow, Texas governor Greg Abbott is suddenly singing a dramatically different tune. During a Sunday interview with ABC, Abbott said that AI companies have "basically dug their
[12]
Data centre trap: Trump's AI ambition puts Republicans on defensive
Less than three months before the midterm elections, Republicans are already facing tough headwinds - and now an unlikely issue has the potential to galvanise voters against them even further. For years, the Republican Party's message on technology was straightforward: cut regulation, unleash
[13]
Texas welcomed the AI boom. Now Abbott says data centers "dug their own grave"
* Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who last year celebrated a $20 billion Amazon data center investment, imposed new restrictions this week. * New York Gov. Kathy Hochul last month ordered a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers. Catch up quick: Just last November, Abbott
[14]
How data center controversies are transforming the 2026 midterm landscape
A couple years ago, few knew about data centers; now opposition is growing amongst the general public. The snowballing opposition to data centers in communities across the United States has transformed the midterm election landscape, thrown a wrench into the plans of the world's richest companies
[15]
Trump defends AI data center buildout amid pushback
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for data center projects in a radio interview that aired on Sunday. The segment was hosted by former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who had testified against him in a high-profile 2024 trial. The discussion, which was taped on Wednesday, also covered
[16]
'Capital alone no longer clears a site': Morgan Stanley says data centers' big money era is over | Fortune
Something has changed in the data-center story, Morgan Stanley warned this week: Money doesn't talk the way it used to. For years, the formula for building a data center in America was straightforward: Find cheap land, line up enormous amounts of electricity, and arrive with a sizable
[17]
Here's all the ways that data center controversies have transformed the midterm elections
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- The snowballing opposition to data centers in communities across the United States has transformed the midterm election landscape, thrown a wrench into the plans of the world's richest companies and brought perhaps the industry's biggest booster, President Donald Trump, to
[18]
Exclusive: GOP warns AI companies that data centers are politically radioactive
Why it matters: Republicans want the AI companies to do whatever it takes to stem the public backlash. The big picture: AI CEOs and top Republicans share in the rising panic. They tell us internal polls show data centers are as popular as spent nuclear waste, and more broadly have become a proxy
[19]
The Data-Center Backlash Looms Large Ahead of the Midterms
In the past year, data-center construction has become an unavoidable, extraordinarily toxic issue in local politics. This was an organic process: Unprecedented capital is being deployed in a rapid AI build-out, manifesting in communities around the country as massive, urgent physical projects;
[20]
Americans' backlash to data centers is scrambling midterm elections
Populist opposition to massive data centers fueling the artificial intelligence boom is scrambling up the 2026 midterms, cutting across ideological lines. Americans from the urban cores to rural outskirts are objecting to these facilities, which house the servers and networking equipment used for
[21]
Rising data center backlash shakes up midterm races
As public pushback to data centers boils over, politicians on both sides of the aisle are racing to distance themselves from the controversial facilities. Key swing state candidates are scrambling to endorse stricter data center policies and accusing their opponents of being too cozy with the
[22]
GOP urges top AI firms to do something about the toxic image of data centers
GOP urges top AI firms to do something about the toxic image of data centers As artificial intelligence data centers continue to proliferate across Ohio and public opposition grows, Axios reported today that the GOP's Senate campaign arm has privately warned AI companies that they need to do
[23]
Trump keeps embracing data centers even as they become toxic in midterm races
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump, speaking alongside cryptocurrency leaders at the White House this week, made a statement that Republican and Democratic candidates alike wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. "If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to
[24]
In A Divided America, The Left And Right Unite To Oppose Artificial Intelligence Data Centers
In the small Nebraska village of Murdock, now-paused plans for two potential data centers have sparked the kinds of debates that have raged in cities and towns across the country. MURDOCK, Neb. (AP) -- In rural eastern Nebraska, a technology revolution could rise from fields of corn and soybean in
[25]
In a divided America, the left and right unite to oppose artificial intelligence data centers
Rural communities face growing concerns over rapid data center expansion. Farmers and environmentalists unite against potential farmland loss and water depletion. Supporters highlight job creation and technological advancement for the nation. However, opposition is mounting across various states
[26]
Behind the Curtain: The new existential threat to AI
Why it matters: Republicans and AI CEOs are in full panic mode watching politicians and the public turn on the physical engines of AI growth. In private, they tell us they can't find a compelling message to shift opinion fast enough. Their nightmare -- a political and economic daisy chain that
[27]
Trump Says Communities Rejecting Data Centers Are 'Making a Mistake,' Says US Leads China In AI 'By a Lot
President Donald Trump defended the U.S. data-center boom, saying communities that reject the projects are "making a mistake" because artificial-intelligence infrastructure can deliver jobs, investment and tax revenue. Trump Says Data Centers Bring Jobs "Communities that don't take a data center,
[28]
Bernie Sanders Says He Was Labeled 'Radical,' 'Crazy' and an Extremist for His Data Center Moratorium Pus
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says public opinion has shifted sharply toward his and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) call to pause new AI data center construction as communities push back against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. Sanders Says Americans Are Now on His Side Over the
[29]
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says data center builders 'dug their own grave' with public opinion
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, once a data-center booster, says companies constructing the behemoth AI complexes have "dug their own grave" as public opposition over new construction surges. The GOP pol went said Sunday they have botched the buildout by rushing into communities without first winning over
[30]
Trump is right to put his neck on the line for data centers
On Wednesday, speaking at the White House alongside crypto executives, President Trump noted that he would "absolutely" want a data center in his community. "If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a big plant in, an AI plant or a data center, I would
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Political candidates across the US are signing pledges to regulate AI data centers as voter anger mounts over electricity costs, water usage, and environmental impact. The issue has become a flashpoint in midterm races from Ohio to Texas, with the EPA proposing controversial changes to public feedback requirements while states implement moratoriums.
Political Candidates Rally Around AI Data Center Regulation
AI data centers have emerged as an unexpected political flashpoint in the 2026 midterm elections, with more than 15 candidates signing the AI Pact—a five-point pledge promising action on data center regulation and AI safety
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. The pact, created by the Political Integrity Project, commits signers to advocate for mandatory safety reviews for AI models, support policies creating an AI dividend for workers, and ensure consumers can sue over AI-related harms. Critically, it pledges to "support policies that would ban tax breaks, backroom deals, and excessive energy usage for data centers"1
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Source: Axios
Dan Osborn, running as an independent for US Senate in Nebraska, found the issue resonated even with voters he disagreed with on other topics. "Boy, right away, we were in lockstep, 100 percent agreement," Osborn said about discussing AI data centers with a self-described "hardcore MAGA" supporter
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. The bipartisan opposition reflects widespread concerns about environmental impact, electricity costs, water usage, and the corporate power behind these massive facilities.Voter Anger Over Data Centers Becomes Midterm Election Issue
Community opposition to data centers has become what the National Republican Senatorial Committee called a "sleeper issue for the entire election cycle"
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. In Ohio, Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown is running attack ads against Sen. Jon Husted, calling him the "face of data centers in Ohio" as voters gather signatures for a statewide referendum to ban their construction2
. The NRSC warned that "data centers are the anchor hanging around Husted's neck" and predicted that if he loses, "politicians across the country will take notice"2
.Most registered voters oppose building a data center in their area, according to a July Fox News poll
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. A Quinnipiac Poll from June found that about 4 in 10 voters mentioned AI data centers as important in deciding who to vote for in US House elections2
. The AI data center outrage has even penetrated popular culture, with beverage companies Liquid Death and Garage Beer releasing a satirical ad on a major primary election day mocking the facilities' water usage3
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Source: SiliconANGLE
Trump Defends Data Centers Despite GOP Voter Anger
President Donald Trump continues defending AI data centers even as they become toxic in competitive races. Speaking alongside cryptocurrency leaders at the White House, Trump said, "If I were the mayor of a town or the governor of a state, and I had a chance to get a big plant in, an AI plant or a data center, I would absolutely want it because the jobs are enormous and the money paid, the taxes paid, are just enormous"
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.Trump has framed AI infrastructure as critical to national and economic security, positioning the race to build data centers as essential to winning against China. However, he acknowledged concern over rising electricity bills, previously saying "it's only fair" for companies to shoulder their costs
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. He also suggested data centers need "a little public relations help"2
. In recent months, he secured voluntary pledges from tech giants to shield US consumers from higher utility bills from data centers.Related Stories
States Implement Moratoriums and Tighter Regulations
Governors who previously championed data center development are now implementing restrictions. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott initiated a temporary moratorium on data center construction, saying the facilities have "dug their own grave" in his state
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. Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order placing harsh standards on data center development3
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Source: Axios
In Florida's Republican gubernatorial primary, Rep. Byron Donalds won easily after making regulating data centers and AI a central campaign issue. Donalds introduced the "Protecting Ratepayers Act," designed to "ensure that private developers, rather than American taxpayers, bear the investment costs of data center developments"
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. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a "data center plan" proposing federal legislation to block centers from using Chinese technology and holding them criminally liable if they power AI chatbots that "undermine children's safety"5
.EPA Proposes Eliminating Public Feedback Requirements
While politicians respond to voter concerns, the EPA proposed eliminating a decades-old federal rule requiring states to solicit public feedback about industrial projects before approval
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. The change could enable tech developers to start building new AI data centers before neighboring communities voice their thoughts or even learn such plans exist. The EPA says it's promoting efficiency and local empowerment, aiming to "reduce administrative burden and responsibly speed up permitting"4
.Under the 1970 Clean Air Act, states must "offer a minimum 30-day public comment period" for new industrial facilities
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. The proposed change would scrap that mandatory comment period for "minor sources" of air pollution, including data centers. However, a Financial Times analysis found that the sixty biggest data centers under construction will together emit around 101.5 million tons of carbon dioxide annually once operational4
. A letter opposing the proposal was signed by attorneys general of over a dozen states and three cities, plus nearly two hundred advocacy groups4
.Watch how regulating data centers and AI evolves as candidates balance job creation promises against constituent concerns about environmental impact and rising costs. The outcome of these midterm races could determine whether political leaders continue supporting AI infrastructure development or implement stricter regulations in response to mounting community opposition.
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