Big Tech claims voters' AI backlash is "anti-Trump" not "anti-tech"

Voters in the 2026 midterms backed a wave of measures and candidates seeking tighter controls on AI and data centers, challenging President Trump’s rapid buildout plans. Of 44 ballot measures in 10 states aimed at restricting data centers, 38 had passed; most are expected to affect future projects rather than facilities already approved or under construction. In Texas, where Gina Hinojosa won the governor’s race, a proposed pause would give communities a voice and address effects on water, electricity, air quality, property rights, and household bills. Analysts say delays could put about 13 gigawatts of Texas capacity at risk, while election outcomes in Arizona, Georgia, and Ohio could expose much of the planned 2028 expansion to added scrutiny.

Tech industry advocate Adam Kovacevich argued the results reflected an anti-Trump swing, not a voter mandate against technology, noting that some candidates opposed to data-center bans still won. But exit polling found three-quarters of voters opposed data centers, and more than half said AI and data centers substantially influenced their congressional vote. Critics of unchecked AI point to local costs and pollution as well as concerns about biased systems and weak accountability; polling also suggests distrust of company promises and opposition across party lines. Analysts expect stricter permitting and fewer tax incentives to raise costs and slow projects, potentially giving China an advantage in selling cheaper AI services. Tech companies and major donors, including Elon Musk, may also face greater political scrutiny and investigations.