American Voters Overwhelmingly Reject AI Data Centers

In the recent midterm elections, American voters made it abundantly clear that they do not want data centers in their communities. Over 40 ballot measures related to data centers were on the ballot in 13 states, and voters rejected them in 38 of those races. Six cities outright banned data centers, while 12 others placed limits on the amount of electricity these buildings could consume.

Candidates who supported data centers lost their races across the nation, including Texas Governor Gregg Abbott, who lost his bid for a fourth term after accepting over $9 million from data center-related donors. Despite making Texas a data center-friendly state and promising to double the number of data centers, Abbott's stance did not sway voters.

In his absence, Texas's newly elected Democratic governor Gina Hinojosa made data center opposition a centerpiece of her campaign. Similar anti-data center sentiments were seen in other states, such as Kansas, where a mayoral candidate lost after voting for a hyperscale project, and in Oklahoma, where a mayor lost a recall election after supporting a similar project.

These results send a strong message that local communities do not support data centers, citing concerns over increased utility bills, pollution, and the displacement of basic goods and services. Anti-data center candidates in cities like Asheville, North Carolina, and San Marcos, Texas, were elected as mayors after running campaigns against data center development.

While Big Tech companies like Elon Musk, who spent $224 million on the midterms—including $224 million in Texas—continue to press for data center expansion, it seems that the American public is determined to resist and protect their communities from the perceived negative impacts of these facilities.