Datacenters were on the ballot. US voters rejected them

Datacenter expansion became a direct electoral issue in the 2026 US midterms, with votes on proposals or restrictions in at least 40 jurisdictions across 10 states. Voters approved nearly every measure, delivering a broad rebuke to large facilities that power AI and other online services and have become symbols of the technology industry’s wealth and resource demands. In Ohio, at least 14 municipalities adopted bans or limits, including Sunbury, where Amazon has proposed a $2bn facility. Eight Maine communities approved temporary moratoriums, and Emporia, Kansas, blocked high-impact datacenters. Hardwood, North Dakota, was a notable exception: residents rejected proposed restrictions.

Opposition also shaped statewide races and policy commitments. Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa pledged a construction moratorium, tighter rules and more community input; newly elected governors in Georgia and Ohio also promised moratoriums on large facilities. The resistance is bipartisan: Florida’s Republican governor signed strict datacenter regulations in May, and Texas Republican Greg Abbott shifted from welcoming projects to opposing electricity subsidies. The results signal potential obstacles to rapid construction and AI policy, particularly in Texas, which is expected to account for roughly a quarter to nearly a third of US datacenter capacity. Tech investors warned that Democratic control of Congress could create further hurdles for the industry.