Republican Leaders Largely Toe the Line With Trump On AI Data Centers
Trump's support for data centers puts him at odds with many voters, including conservatives, ahead of the midterms.
Republican leaders largely aligned themselves with President Donald Trump on artificial intelligence (AI) data centers ahead of the 2026 midterms, despite growing concerns from voters. Trump has been a strong advocate for accelerating AI technology and utilizing his executive authority to support the industry, even as a nationwide backlash against data center development persists.
At the Republican National Convention in Dallas, several Republican state party chairs expressed support for data center development, but emphasized the importance of local control. Data centers and AI technology have become prominent issues in the midterms, and Republican candidates are in a challenging position, seeking to avoid conflict with the president on this matter.
As Republicans trail in several House and Senate races, Democrats are leading in the generic ballot and competitive in key Senate races in states that strongly supported Trump in 2024. Economic worries, high living costs, and the ongoing war in Iran have eroded Trump's popularity, making Democrats optimistic about their chances in the midterms.
Data centers, criticized for potentially driving up energy prices, align with Democrats' affordability message, potentially swaying independent voters. While some Republican leaders acknowledge the benefits of new data centers, they stress the significance of local control in their construction. Florida's approach, which ensures data centers pay for power and water while allowing local governments to decide on zoning, serves as a model for other states.
Washington Republican Party Chair Jim Walsh emphasized that each project should be evaluated individually, asserting that blanket opposition to data centers is misguided. Meanwhile, some Republican Party chairs, like Chaplain Rich Stoglin from Texas, support Governor Greg Abbott's approach, which requires data centers to have a plan and prohibits eminent domain use.
Anahuac, Texas delegate Rachal Hisler believes data center development can be positive if approached with smart policies, advocating for federal level guidelines while preserving state and local roles in data center policy. Trump has historically endorsed rapid AI and data center development, warning that communities opposing them risk becoming "backwards and poor."
However, a recent YouGov and The Economist poll found that 39% of Republicans view data centers negatively, while only 31% see them positively, and only 28% would support a data center in their community. Overall, 51% of Americans believe data centers are detrimental to the country.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
