AI Data Center War: Where Democrats, Republicans in Key Senate Races Stand
The AI backlash is now hitting the six Senate races that Cook Political Report rates as toss-ups heading into November.
The 2026 midterms have seen data centers emerge as a contentious issue, with both Democrats and Republicans holding divergent stances in key Senate races. Polls indicate that 61% of Americans oppose new data centers in their areas, with 69% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans sharing this sentiment. In Michigan, gubernatorial candidate Gretchen El-Sayed has been vocal about her opposition to data centers, stating that people "really effing hate data centers."
She has proposed terms of engagement for developers, including covering rate increases, guaranteeing grid reliability, and using closed-loop cooling systems. If federal intervention is not implemented, El-Sayed vowed not to support new projects.
In Ohio, Republican candidate Mike Husted has staunchly opposed data centers, running ads linking incumbent Democratic candidate Josh Husted to his 2019 defense of a Google tax break. Husted's campaign has received significant donations from tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and others. However, pressure from the National Republican Senatorial Committee led Husted to pledge a one-year moratorium on new data center construction, a position that has drawn criticism from Democratic Senator Chris Murphy.
In Texas, Senate candidate Jason Talarico has taken a strong stance against data centers, proposing that developers fund their own infrastructure upgrades and pay their fair share of taxes. Talarico has received substantial donations from data center-connected donors, including Nvidia and Lone Pine Capital. His opponent, Dan Patrick, has received less support from the industry, but Talarico's campaign has labeled him a hypocrite for accepting such donations. Recent polls show Talarico leading Patrick by narrow margins.
Maine Senator Angus King has a more moderate stance on data centers, acknowledging concerns about their energy consumption and impact on local economies. He has taken a cautious approach, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that considers both economic opportunities and environmental concerns. Maine has already seen a number of municipalities pass moratoriums on data center development, particularly in rural areas.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
