From WIRED · Molly Taft · · 2m
Data centers become midterm battleground
Candidates across the US are attacking opponents over data center support as the issue gains traction in tight races.
In brief
Candidates across the US are attacking opponents over data center support as the issue gains traction in tight races. Data centers have emerged as a potent midterm issue, with candidates across Senate, House and gubernatorial races attacking opponents over their stance on the industry, potentially swinging tight…
Data centers become campaign weapon
Public opposition to data centers has surged since the start of the year, making the issue a potent weapon in midterm races.
Five candidates branded with data center label
At least five candidates have been given the derogatory moniker Data Center followed by their name by opponents, including two candidates named Derek or Derrick, to highlight their industry connections.
Ohio Senate race tops the list
Democrat Sherrod Brown is attacking Senator Jon Husted in Ohio over data centers, calling him the face of data centers in Ohio and blaming him for welcoming them and driving energy bills up.
“the face of data centers in Ohio”
Republican memo warns of sleeper issue
The National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a memo in August warning that Brown's data center attacks on Husted could tip the outcome, calling it a sleeper issue for the entire election cycle.
“a sleeper issue for the entire election cycle”
Democrats block Husted's protection bill
Senate Democrats torpedoed a bill sponsored by Husted and modeled after the White House's ratepayer protection pledge. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the bill toothless.
“toothless”
House races feature data center attacks
Data centers have become flash points in dozens of House races. In Michigan's seventh district, Will Lawrence used local opposition to data centers to win a Democratic primary and now faces Republican Tom Barrett.
Governors promise data center moratoriums
At least twenty candidates in thirty-six gubernatorial races have promised to enact some kind of data center moratorium if elected.New York governor Kathy Hochul signed the only true hyperscale moratorium in the US in July.
Texas governor reverses data center stance
Governor Greg Abbott has gone from welcoming data center development to putting a de facto moratorium on permits in less than a year.
Ohio dominates ballot measures
Voters in eight states are looking at more than thirty local ballot measures around data centers. Ohio is responsible for more than half of those measures, from local moratoriums to referendums around rezoning.
What matters most
Data centers have emerged as a potent midterm issue, with candidates across Senate, House and gubernatorial races attacking opponents over their stance on the industry, potentially swinging tight races.
