Data Center Opposition Becomes Major Issue in 2024 Midterm Campaigns
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Political advertising referencing data centers has surged, with both parties using the issue to appeal to voters concerned about energy costs and local impacts, while tech industry groups invest heavily in related races.
Political ads mentioning data centers have risen sharply in 2024, accounting for more than 8% of all broadcast TV campaign spending last month, according to AdImpact tracking. The spending, which exceeds $31 million so far this year, is almost entirely critical of AI-related infrastructure projects, regardless of party affiliation.
Candidates across the country are highlighting local concerns such as higher electricity bills and property-value impacts. In Michigan, a congressional hopeful warned that a proposed data center could increase energy costs and depress home values. In Missouri, two leading Republican county-executive candidates devoted their entire TV budgets to opposing data centers and accusing each other of ties to developers. Similar tactics have appeared in Wisconsin and California, where opponents have nicknamed rivals “Data Center David.”
"Data centers have picked up a unique bipartisan opposition in large part because they are so local as an issue," said Daniel King, a research fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation.
Industry groups tied to AI have responded with substantial spending in key races, though many of their ads avoid direct references to data centers or AI. A super PAC funded in part by an OpenAI executive purchased millions of dollars in broadcast ads that focus on candidate endorsements rather than the technology itself.
Polling shows strong voter resistance to nearby data center construction, with a July Fox News poll reporting 70% opposition and a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicating 59% would oppose a facility within ten miles of their home. Analysts project that AI-driven data centers could raise national electricity bills by about 6% within a year, with the greatest impact on nearby residents.
The issue has entered high-profile races, such as the Ohio Senate contest between Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Jon Husted. Brown’s campaign has spent over $3.5 million on TV spots criticizing Husted’s support for data centers and promising to make the facilities cover their full electricity costs. Husted, in turn, introduced legislation aimed at limiting the impact of data centers on residential electric rates.
In Wisconsin, gubernatorial candidates have also centered their platforms on data center regulation, with Democratic primary candidate Francesca Hong advocating a moratorium and Republican Tom Tiffany attacking incumbent Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley for promoting the state as an AI hub.
Tech companies and venture-capital-backed PACs have poured more than $190 million into super PACs and nonprofit groups that have spent over $60 million on independent expenditures this cycle. While many of these groups avoid mentioning data centers directly, they have supported candidates who favor stricter regulation or have highlighted broader AI safety messages.
Governors in Texas and New York, traditionally supportive of tech development, have recently endorsed temporary pauses on new large-scale data centers, citing concerns over electricity and water usage. Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania also issued an executive order tightening review processes for data center projects after previously promoting AI investment.
Lawmakers emphasizing national security have warned that broad moratoriums could undermine U.S. competitiveness against China, while President Donald Trump has praised data centers as “very positive” but suggested they could benefit from better public relations.
Overall, the growing focus on data centers reflects a convergence of local voter concerns, energy-policy debates, and the broader political calculus surrounding AI development ahead of the midterm elections.