Data centers are a political issue crossing party lines, driving voters to candidates - Oregon Public Broadcasting
Data centers have become a significant political issue across the US, with candidates in Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin campaigning on platforms that include proposed moratoriums and new regulations due to public concerns. Opposition stems from issues like rising electric bills, noise, pollution, and the perceived lack of economic benefits for local communities. The issue is seen as transcending traditional partisan divides, driving voter engagement.
Data centers are emerging as a surprising bipartisan political issue in US election campaigns, with candidates leveraging public sentiment against their expansion. In Saline Township, Michigan, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed rallied against a massive data center campus being developed by OpenAI and Oracle, advocating for federal guardrails before further approvals. He linked the issue to populist economics and reducing the influence of money in politics.
Across the country, the opposition is widespread, with a Gallup poll indicating 70% of Americans oppose AI data center construction in their areas. Ohio gubernatorial candidates Vivek Ramaswamy (R) and Amy Acton (D) have both released plans addressing data center expansion. Ramaswamy's "Ohioans-first data center pledge" calls for legislation and a moratorium, citing concerns like rising electric bills, noise, pollution, and undefined economic benefits. Acton proposed a "conditional moratorium" and criticized Ramaswamy's ties to big tech.
Similar trends are seen in other states. In Florida, a protest against AI data center expansion took place in New Port Richey. Michigan's 7th Congressional District candidate William Lawrence found data centers to be a key concern for voters, leading him to incorporate opposition into his platform. In Wisconsin, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong is building a coalition around a call for a full moratorium on AI data centers, arguing for new regulations to protect energy costs, the economy, and the environment.
This issue cuts across traditional political divides, with both Democratic socialists and Republicans finding common ground in their opposition. Amanda Litman of Run For Something notes that data centers are seen as a tangible representation of public anxieties about AI, affecting urban, rural, and suburban communities across different political landscapes.