Data centers got a slap in the face at the ballot box. These key votes show how.
Dozens of referendums restricted data center construction, as the Democrats flipped Texas and saw big swings in Virginia's "Data Center Alley."
In Tuesday's midterm elections, data centers faced a significant setback as local voters overwhelmingly rejected their construction in numerous referendums. A poll conducted by NBC News revealed that 76% of voters would oppose the establishment of a new data center in their community, while 56% cited AI and data centers as crucial or major factors in their vote for Congress.
Notably, more than 30 direct votes against data centers passed in over 30 local elections, with 33 ballot measures restricting data centers approved as of 8 a.m. ET, according to an analysis by Redbud Consulting. These results indicate that Americans are voting overwhelmingly against data centers in many of the referendums held on Tuesday.
In Texas, a state home to hundreds of data centers, Democrats made substantial gains, with Gina Hinojosa winning the gubernatorial race and becoming the state's first Democratic governor in over 30 years. Hinojosa's campaign pledged to halt data center development in the state immediately. Additionally, Democratic Senator-elect James Talarico has raised concerns about the impact of data centers on the cost of living, advocating for an AI dividend to share in AI companies' profits.
The blue wave, characterized by Democrats' unexpected success in various races, is particularly evident in Texas, a major location for data centers, including Stargate's flagship site and two others under development.
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