From WIRED · Vittoria Elliott · · 2m
Voters reject data centers in sweeping election rebuke
Candidates opposing data center expansion won decisively across the US, with voters citing concerns about energy, jobs and AI's societal impact.
In brief
Candidates opposing data center expansion won decisively across the US, with voters citing concerns about energy, jobs and AI's societal impact. Voters across the US elected candidates opposing data center expansion, rejecting industry-backed candidates and approving moratoriums in ballot measures. Originally reported…
Ohio Senate flips on data center anger
Democrat Sherrod Brown won his Senate race after months of ads calling his opponent the face of data centers in Ohio. Brown's victory flipped the seat.
Data center opposition resonates nationwide
Democrat Chris Pappas mentioned opposition to data centers in his New Hampshire victory speech and drew massive boos, despite the state having no large-scale data centers under construction.
Two Republicans lose on data center label
Republicans named Derek and Derrick lost House races in Ohio and Wisconsin after Democratic opponents labeled them Data Center Derek and DC Derrick.
Voters cite data centers as election issue
Almost a quarter of all voters told NBC News that data centers were crucial to their vote, while nearly two-thirds said it was either a major or minor factor.
Data centers linked to AI concerns
Democratic strategist Alexander McCoy says voters link data centers and AI technology in their minds, with concerns extending beyond local issues to societal impact on jobs and opportunities.
“Data centers and AI as a technology are fundamentally linked in many voters' minds.”
Democrats win governor races on moratoriums
Voters elected Democrats Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia and Gina Hinojosa in Texas, with Cindy Holscher on the cusp of winning in Kansas. All campaigned for data center moratoriums.
Industry spending fails to sway voters
Building the Future, an industry super PAC, spent one point five million dollars to support Darline Graham in South Carolina, but she lost to Democrat Annie Andrews, who favors a moratorium.
Ballot measures reject data center expansion
In data center ballot measures across nine states, voters rejected future construction plans, approved moratoriums and called for greater consultation with local communities. Just one county allowed more development.
Tech industry seeks damage control
On election day, The Hill reported that environmental groups and Big Tech companies were working together as part of a Responsible Data Center Development Collaborative to create a development framework.
The takeaway
Voters across the US elected candidates opposing data center expansion, rejecting industry-backed candidates and approving moratoriums in ballot measures.
