From political prize to campaign liability: Data centers become a midterm battleground
Data centers are rapidly becoming a key issue in midterm elections, with public sentiment turning against them due to concerns over electricity costs, water consumption, and land use. This shift has prompted politicians across multiple states, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Florida, to adjust their stances or use data center development as a campaign issue. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed an executive order imposing new restrictions on development in response to resident concerns.
Data centers, essential for powering services from Google searches to AI, are transforming into a significant political liability on the campaign trail as the November midterm elections approach. This shift marks a dramatic change from previous years when politicians from both parties actively courted data center developers, citing billions in investment, job creation, and tax revenue.
A new Heatmap Pro poll reveals a sharp increase in public opposition, with 75% of Americans now opposing data centers near their homes, up from 42% a year ago. This backlash is fueled by rising concerns over electricity costs, water usage, land consumption, noise pollution, and tax incentives. Politicians are reacting, with some reversing previous support.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, who previously announced major data center projects, recently signed an executive order to impose new restrictions and requirements on development, citing residents' concerns. His Republican opponent, Stacy Garrity, is leveraging Shapiro's past support against him. Similar political battles are unfolding in Wisconsin, where Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany is campaigning against Democratic opponent David Crowley, labeling him "Data Center David Crowley" for his perceived pro-data center stance. Crowley advocates for local control, emphasizing community choice.
The debate also plays a role in Ohio's Senate race, where former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown is criticizing Republican Senator Jon Husted for his role in attracting data centers to the state. Other candidates, like Florida Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Byron Donalds, support continued development but propose that facilities provide their own utilities and avoid residential areas. President Trump remains a staunch supporter of data center development, highlighting their investment, jobs, and critical role in US AI competitiveness against China. The core of the campaign debate is now centered on where this infrastructure should be built, who bears the costs, and the extent of local community control.