Data centers have emerged as a potent political issue in the upcoming US midterms, according to a WIRED analysis. Opposition to the industry is now bipartisan, with candidates from both parties using the label "Data Center [Name]" to attack opponents seen as too friendly to developers. The issue is most acute in Ohio, where Senate Democrats have hammered Republican Jon Husted over his support for data centers, and where voters will weigh more than half of the country's local ballot measures on the topic.
Beyond Ohio, data centers are influencing toss-up House races in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York, with incumbents and challengers alike running ads that promise tougher regulation. In gubernatorial races, at least 20 candidates have pledged some form of moratorium, and even Texas Governor Greg Abbott has shifted from welcoming the industry to a de facto permit pause. WIRED notes that while pocketbook issues may dominate voter concerns, data centers could still swing tight contests and tip control of Congress.