{
  "id": 12965236,
  "title": "No one wants to be “Data Center Dave”",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/no-one-wants-to-be-data-center-dave",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T22:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Vox",
    "slug": "vox",
    "url": "https://www.vox.com/today-explained-newsletter/505580/data-center-backlash-2026-midterms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the tight gubernatorial race between Republican Tom Tiffany and Democrat Francesca Hong in Wisconsin, a new political slur has emerged: \"Data Center Dave.\" This moniker was used in a campaign ad by Tiffany, mocking Hong's stance on data centers. As Americans head to the polls for midterm elections, the growing animosity toward AI and data centers may influence the outcome. These large, cavernous warehouses that power AI computing are facing hostility across the country, regardless of geography or party lines. While initial concerns focused on noise, water use, and energy costs, the unease has expanded to include fears about AI's impact on employment, inequality, and its potential to widen the gap between the rich and poor. Candidates are jumping on the bandwagon, promising policies to dissuade data center development, such as limiting household energy bills or ending tax breaks. Both parties have supported these proposals, while simultaneously trying to discredit opponents as \"Data Center Dave.\" Despite this, data centers are not a top concern for most voters. In Ohio, the hub for both data center development and opposition, only 3% of voters listed data centers as the most important issue in their vote. This trend is reflected in races across the nation, with data centers not necessarily crowding out other issues.",
  "summary": "This story appeared in Today, Explained, a daily newsletter that helps you understand the most compelling news and stories of the day. As far as political slurs go, this one is pretty tepid: “Meet Data Center Dave Crowley,” intones the stern-voiced narrator of a recent Tom Tiffany campaign ad. Tiffany, a Republican, and Crowley, a Democrat, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}