Voter concerns about electricity costs, water use and local control are pushing candidates in both parties to define their positions.
WASHINGTON (SOA) -- Public opposition to data center construction is rising across the country, turning a once largely economic-development-focused issue into a growing political challenge ahead of the midterm elections.
At public meetings and protests, local officials are increasingly hearing sharp objections from residents concerned about the impact of data centers on water supplies, electricity costs and nearby communities.
“We do not want a data center in this county! Do you understand?!” one resident angrily proclaimed during a July meeting in Franklin County, Virginia.
Polling data show local opposition to data centers is on the rise. (SOA)A survey published in August by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found that 61% of U.S. adults oppose data center construction in their area — a 12-percentage-point increase over four months. The opposition crossed party lines, with Democrats, Republicans and independents all expressing opposition.
“It’s quite unusual that you have such large majorities of all three parties, or both parties and independents, feeling the same way,” said Matt Levendusky, a University of Pennsylvania political science professor.
Levendusky said public opinion is moving quickly.
“I think we will continue to see people’s opinions evolve and politicians will need to react to this,” he said.
University of Pennsylvania political science professor Matt Levendusky. (SOA)The issue is already appearing in campaign advertising across the country. In Pennsylvania, an ad supporting Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro calls Republican candidate Stacy Garrity “Pennsylvania’s No. 1 fan of data centers.” A Garrity campaign ad accuses Shapiro of giving Amazon tax credits to build a data center without community input.
Republican strategists are also watching the issue closely in Ohio, a red-leaning state that has the fifth-most data centers in the country. A leaked memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, first reported by Axios, warned that attacks over data centers could threaten incumbent Sen. John Husted’s seat in November. The memo described data centers as “a sleeper issue for the entire election cycle.”
An NRSC memo, first reported by Axios, details worry within the GOP that data center messaging could cost incumbent senator John Husted in November. (SOA)Ohio has seen local moratoriums pause or block new projects amid concerns about water supplies and electricity costs. Gov. Mike DeWine, who is term-limited, has also frozen new tax breaks for data centers after earlier incentive packages cost the state billions of dollars in potential sales-tax revenue.
The candidates seeking to replace DeWine have each laid out conditions for future development.
Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said data centers should be built on abandoned industrial sites rather than fertile farmland or near residential communities.
“If those requirements are not met, then the data center is not going to get built in Ohio, period,” Ramaswamy said.
Democratic candidate Amy Acton has proposed what she calls a conditional moratorium to give the state time to establish protections. She said data centers are driving up energy costs and companies should bring their own energy generation.
“We are open for business in Ohio, but we are not for sale,” Acton said, adding that projects should create good-paying union jobs.
The backlash has helped drive new restrictions nationwide. Twenty states have enacted moratoriums or bans on data center construction, while another seven are advancing legislation that would impose restrictions.
Data centers have emerged as a flashpoint in 2026 midterm races as opposition rises. (KATU)Levendusky said neither major political party appears to have a clear advantage on the issue. Instead, he said voters are looking for candidates who offer specific policies that respond to concerns about the facilities’ community impact.
He expects we'll see more state-level regulation and negotiations over the conditions companies must meet before projects can move forward.
“If we’re going to have data centers, what are the kind of ground rules?” Levendusky said. “What are the systems that need to be put in place to ensure that these are a win for the companies, but also a win for the people in the areas where they’re being placed?”
While data centers were once primarily sought for their potential economic benefits, Levendusky said much of the recent messaging has focused on environmental and energy concerns, as well as public distrust of — or unfamiliarity with — artificial intelligence. He suspects that major technology companies will mount a more aggressive counter-message.
The Annenberg survey also found that 68% of respondents believe the government has done too little to regulate AI, while 39% said AI will have a negative effect on the United States. Respondents viewed AI negatively across every major issue tested except medical research and discoveries, which had a net positive rating of 41 percentage points.
Personal privacy and data security received the lowest rating, with a net negative impact of 63 percentage points.
