Blue wave crashes into data centers
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Fierce pushback to data centers helped carry Democrats to victory in key races across the nation this week, and where the centers were explicitly on the ballot, they lost overwhelmingly.
Midterm voters both rejected industry-backed candidates and overwhelmingly backed resolutions to halt data center construction, dealing a major blow to the sector.
Election Day marked perhaps the biggest test so far for data center sentiment. Technology watchdog groups are seizing on the outcome, stating results show the public is largely rejecting the facilities and the technology they power.
“Data centers represent a fear and an angst that voters have about being replaced by AI, losing their jobs, losing their livelihoods [and] the rising price of energy in their local area,” said Brendan Steinhauser, who ran Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) 2014 campaign and is now CEO of the Alliance for Secure AI. He added that they were also representative of “corruption” from “Big Tech oligarchs.”
While the economy, high costs at the pump, corruption and the state of democracy topped voters’ list of concerns, exit polls suggest data centers were one of several factors contributing to the blue tsunami Tuesday night.
In an NBC News exit poll, 23 percent of voters said that data centers were “crucial” in their congressional vote, while another 33 percent said they were a “major” factor. Seventy-six percent said they would oppose construction of a new data center in their community.
“This is an issue that really defined affordability for folks, and governors, senators, House-elect members all saw it as a huge opportunity,” Lori Lodes, president of Climate Power, told reporters.
Read more from The Hill’s Miranda Nazzaro and me when the story runs tomorrow at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
Manufacturing giant 3M has agreed to a $7.35 billion settlement over personal injury claims related to its manufacture of “forever chemicals” used in firefighting foam.
Bo French, the GOP nominee running for Texas railroad commissioner, is projected to lose his race to Democrat Jon Rosenthal, according to Decision Desk HQ.
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
President Trump said Wednesday he is not considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth but predicted the Pentagon chief would be “very popular” if he filled Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) seat. Read more
Outgoing Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) rejected a special session aimed at undercutting incoming Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms (D). Read more
You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
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The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter
Fierce pushback to data centers helped carry Democrats to victory in key races across the nation this week, and where the centers were explicitly on the ballot, they lost overwhelmingly.
Midterm voters both rejected industry-backed candidates and overwhelmingly backed resolutions to halt data center construction, dealing a major blow to the sector.
Election Day marked perhaps the biggest test so far for data center sentiment. Technology watchdog groups are seizing on the outcome, stating results show the public is largely rejecting the facilities and the technology they power.
“Data centers represent a fear and an angst that voters have about being replaced by AI, losing their jobs, losing their livelihoods [and] the rising price of energy in their local area,” said Brendan Steinhauser, who ran Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) 2014 campaign and is now CEO of the Alliance for Secure AI. He added that they were also representative of “corruption” from “Big Tech oligarchs.”
While the economy, high costs at the pump, corruption and the state of democracy topped voters’ list of concerns, exit polls suggest data centers were one of several factors contributing to the blue tsunami Tuesday night.
In an NBC News exit poll, 23 percent of voters said that data centers were “crucial” in their congressional vote, while another 33 percent said they were a “major” factor. Seventy-six percent said they would oppose construction of a new data center in their community.
“This is an issue that really defined affordability for folks, and governors, senators, House-elect members all saw it as a huge opportunity,” Lori Lodes, president of Climate Power, told reporters.
Read more from The Hill’s Miranda Nazzaro and me when the story runs tomorrow at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
Manufacturing giant 3M has agreed to a $7.35 billion settlement over personal injury claims related to its manufacture of “forever chemicals” used in firefighting foam.
Bo French, the GOP nominee running for Texas railroad commissioner, is projected to lose his race to Democrat Jon Rosenthal, according to Decision Desk HQ.
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
President Trump said Wednesday he is not considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth but predicted the Pentagon chief would be “very popular” if he filled Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) seat. Read more
Outgoing Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) rejected a special session aimed at undercutting incoming Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms (D). Read more
You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
Close
The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter
Fierce pushback to data centers helped carry Democrats to victory in key races across the nation this week, and where the centers were explicitly on the ballot, they lost overwhelmingly.
Midterm voters both rejected industry-backed candidates and overwhelmingly backed resolutions to halt data center construction, dealing a major blow to the sector.
Election Day marked perhaps the biggest test so far for data center sentiment. Technology watchdog groups are seizing on the outcome, stating results show the public is largely rejecting the facilities and the technology they power.
“Data centers represent a fear and an angst that voters have about being replaced by AI, losing their jobs, losing their livelihoods [and] the rising price of energy in their local area,” said Brendan Steinhauser, who ran Sen. John Cornyn’s (R-Texas) 2014 campaign and is now CEO of the Alliance for Secure AI. He added that they were also representative of “corruption” from “Big Tech oligarchs.”
While the economy, high costs at the pump, corruption and the state of democracy topped voters’ list of concerns, exit polls suggest data centers were one of several factors contributing to the blue tsunami Tuesday night.
In an NBC News exit poll, 23 percent of voters said that data centers were “crucial” in their congressional vote, while another 33 percent said they were a “major” factor. Seventy-six percent said they would oppose construction of a new data center in their community.
“This is an issue that really defined affordability for folks, and governors, senators, House-elect members all saw it as a huge opportunity,” Lori Lodes, president of Climate Power, told reporters.
Read more from The Hill’s Miranda Nazzaro and me when the story runs tomorrow at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
Manufacturing giant 3M has agreed to a $7.35 billion settlement over personal injury claims related to its manufacture of “forever chemicals” used in firefighting foam.
Bo French, the GOP nominee running for Texas railroad commissioner, is projected to lose his race to Democrat Jon Rosenthal, according to Decision Desk HQ.
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
President Trump said Wednesday he is not considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth but predicted the Pentagon chief would be “very popular” if he filled Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) seat. Read more
Outgoing Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) rejected a special session aimed at undercutting incoming Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms (D). Read more
You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
- {beacon} Energy Environment Energy Environment The Big Story Data centers lose big during midterm races Fierce pushback to data centers helped carry Democrats to victory in key…