The Results Are In: Voters Hate Data Centers
Widespread voter backlash and newly elected state leaders favoring moratoriums in key hubs like Texas and Georgia threaten to severely constrain the physical infrastructure buildout required to scale AI.
What happened
Voters across the United States broadly backed candidates and ballot measures opposing data center construction in the 2026 midterm elections, leading to wins for gubernatorial candidates in major hubs like Texas and Georgia who campaigned on moratoriums. Nearly two-thirds of voters cited data centers and their connection to AI as a factor in their vote, rejecting tens of local development measures despite significant campaign spending by the tech industry.
Who it’s about
- Sherrod Brown
- Keisha Lance Bottoms
- Gina Hinojosa
- Elon Musk
- Building the Future
- Abdul El-Sayed
- Goldman Sachs
- Donald Trump
- Leading the Future
Coverage, oldest first
Transformer
What the blue tsunami means for AI policy
The Verge
Data centers lost the midterms
More on infrastructure
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