Election Results Signal Growing Public Resistance to AI Data Center Expansion

In a significant shift, voters across at least ten states delivered a sweeping rebuke to data center expansion during Tuesday’s midterm elections. Backing local restrictions and rejecting development proposals, citizens voiced strong concerns over rising electricity costs, land use, and the rapid, unregulated buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

According to an analysis by Ballotpedia and results compiled by CNBC, voters backed restrictions or rejected pro-development measures in nearly all of 41 local ballot measures across ten states. Separately, The Washington Post reported that voters in at least 38 jurisdictions passed measures limiting or blocking data center construction, many by wide margins. This overwhelming local opposition poses a growing challenge for an industry pouring billions of dollars into AI infrastructure, as communities increasingly weigh economic benefits against concerns over higher utility bills, water consumption, noise, and local control.

A drone photo shows a former five-story industrial building on East Vernon Avenue being demolished for redevelopment as a proposed CoreSite data center, at right, across the street from Vernon City Elementary School in Vernon on Wednesday, November 4 (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Public opposition is already disrupting projects beyond the ballot box. According to S&P Global figures cited by The Washington Post, more than 145 data center projects were delayed or canceled nationwide through early August, with public opposition accounting for the vast majority of these setbacks.

Ohio, a major hub for data center development, delivered some of the most decisive local results. In the City of Defiance, voters approved a charter amendment restricting data center construction by a 64.73% to 35.27% margin, according to unofficial county election results. Meanwhile, voters in Pataskala approved a data center-related charter amendment by a 73.62% to 26.38% margin, and voters in Granville backed a similar amendment with an overwhelming 82.45% to 17.55% vote.

In Ashville, voters rejected a data center referendum by an even wider margin, with 81.61% voting against the measure and only 18.39% in favor. This backlash has extended into statewide political campaigns, where data center development has emerged as a key campaign issue alongside broader concerns about affordability and economic growth.

The Stargate Oracle AI data center campus is seen on Aug. 26, 2026, in Abilene, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images / Getty Images)

In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott after campaigning on a proposed moratorium on new data center projects and tougher protections for the environment and electricity ratepayers. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton was elected governor, supporting a moratorium and stricter regulations. Meanwhile, Georgia Governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms made greater accountability for data center developers a central part of her campaign.

Polling ahead of the election suggested that opposition to new data centers extends across party lines. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted before the election found that seven in ten Americans, including a majority of Republicans, opposed new data center construction in their communities.

The race to build AI infrastructure is accelerating as concerns grow over centralized technological power. (Noah Berger / Getty Images)

The Post also cited an election-day poll showing that 56% of voters considered artificial intelligence and data centers a major or crucial factor in their vote, though it ranked last among five issues surveyed, behind concerns including government corruption, the war in Iran, and the cost of living. Industry representatives, meanwhile, argue that data center investment can provide substantial economic benefits to host communities. President Donald Trump highlights the growing demand for construction and skilled workers as trade schools experience wait lists, noting that AI data centers and manufacturing are driving a massive labor boom across the country. “Affordability, jobs, and the economy are priorities for Americans across the country,” said Dan Diorio, executive vice president of state policy and government affairs at the Data Center Coalition. He emphasized that data centers can generate jobs, local tax revenue, and significant private investment.

“The data center industry is committed to advancing America’s digital infrastructure, supporting energy reliability and affordability, and promoting long-term, responsible economic development,” Diorio added. As public scrutiny intensifies, major technology companies are taking steps to address concerns about the costs of expanding AI infrastructure. OpenAI announced Thursday that it would pay the full cost of powering data centers it owns and operates, solicit community input, publish construction plans, and avoid using nondisclosure agreements with public officials. The company also released a policy blueprint encouraging lawmakers to adopt similar standards.

A CloudHQ data center in Ashburn, Virginia, on May 31, 2026. (Lexi Critchett/Bloomberg / Getty Images)

“What we’re doing with this blueprint is really laying out the best lessons that we have learned and committing to applying them as they go forward,” OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane told reporters, according to CNBC. The announcement followed Tuesday’s election results, although the blueprint had been in development since August and built on earlier company pledges to protect ratepayers and address community concerns. OpenAI is seeking to expand rapidly to meet demand for AI services and has targeted hundreds of billions of dollars in computing infrastructure spending by 2030.

Not every community voted to restrict development. In Harwood, North Dakota, roughly three-quarters of voters rejected proposed restrictions on industrial development, according to The Washington Post.

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