Data centers become a leading issue in US election campaigns
Rapid data center construction has sparked local opposition across the US and become a major theme in 2026 midterm campaigns. Candidates in both parties are distancing themselves from unchecked buildouts, though they differ on how far to go, up to a moratorium.
In the 2026 US election campaigns for Congress and state governorships, data centers — massive server facilities whose fast buildout brings new infrastructure and costs — have become one of the most potent issues. They have triggered opposition in communities across the country, and candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties are trying to show they share voters' concerns, though their proposed solutions differ.
Tech money in the races
Tech industry money is flowing into the campaigns as well. Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, has spent $45 million in a year. Public First Action, an Anthropic-backed group that says it supports AI safeguards, says it has raised $80 million. Both have funded groups aligned with Democrats and Republicans. The newly created Tomorrow Together has launched $4 million in ads in battleground House races.
Texas
Texas has the second-highest number of planned data center projects after Virginia. In the Senate race, Democrat James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton both want data centers to cover their own energy infrastructure costs and to scrap certain tax exemptions. In the governor's race, Democrat Gina Hinojosa accuses Republican incumbent Greg Abbott of flip-flopping: his office celebrated a $40 billion Google investment last year, but in August he announced an audit that could slow new facilities' connection to the energy grid. Hinojosa has called for a statewide moratorium.
Florida and Pennsylvania
In Florida, Democrat David Jolly has pledged a one-year ban on hyperscale data centers. Republican Byron Donalds, who previously backed their development, now offers a bill requiring developers to fund the energy and water they use. An October poll found 45% of likely voters opposed data centers in the state and 38% supported them; Donalds led 48% to 41%.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who announced a $20 billion Amazon investment last year, took AI data center proposals off the fast track in August. His Republican challenger, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, now supports a pause of no more than three years.
Ohio and Michigan
In Ohio's Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown is attacking Republican incumbent Jon Husted over his past support for data centers. In Michigan, both Senate candidates — Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed — back a moratorium, and the race is rated a dead heat.
