Bipartisan Opposition Grows Over AI Data Center Expansion

Opposition to the construction of artificial intelligence data centers has emerged as a bipartisan political issue ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. With more than 1,500 new facilities proposed, voters are increasingly concerned about water consumption, rising utility costs, and the proximity of these sites to residential neighborhoods. Polling from Gallup and Reuters/Ipsos shows a majority of Americans oppose building these centers near their homes.

Political responses to the trend vary by state and candidate. New York has established a one-year statewide moratorium on new data centers. In Texas, Senate candidate James Talarico has called for reigning in data center companies to protect state water supplies and prevent utility bills from increasing. Similarly, Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has argued that such facilities should be located away from residential areas to avoid local disruption.

President Donald Trump has taken a contrary position, urging communities to accept the facilities. He argues that the projects bring significant wealth to states with very little disruption and suggests that if local communities do not accept the investment, other regions will.