Voters rejected data centers in the 2026 US midterms. Democrat Sherrod Brown won Ohio’s Senate race after opposing them. Chris Pappas won New Hampshire’s Senate race despite boos for his anti-data-center stance. Two House Republicans lost after being labeled as pro-data-center. Democrats won governor races in Georgia, Texas, and Kansas on moratorium pledges. Nearly a quarter of voters called data centers crucial to their vote. Two-thirds saw them as a major or minor factor. Ballot measures in nine states rejected new data center construction. Industry-backed candidates lost despite heavy spending. Tech firms and environmental groups began collaborating on development frameworks.
What changed
Data center projects and supportive candidates often succeeded in prior elections.
What it unlocks
Stricter regulations, moratoriums, and increased scrutiny on data center development.
- 24% of voters said data centers were crucial to their vote
- 66% said data centers were a major or minor factor
- 40+ data center questions on local ballots across 9 states
- $1.5M spent by Building the Future super PAC in South Carolina and Kansas
Sources