The Verge AINov 5, 2026 00:05

Data centers lost the midterms

Voters across the U.S. delivered a setback to data center developers, with 76% opposing data centers in their communities and several ballot measures restricting development. Newly elected officials in Texas and Michigan support moratoriums, signaling a more restrictive building environment for AI infrastructure. This reflects growing public resistance to the physical footprint of the AI industry.

AI Brief

Provides concrete, recent election results directly impacting AI infrastructure expansion, a key industry concern.

Data center developers are poised to face a more restrictive building environment after voters across the country voted in candidates who favor moratoriums and ballot measures that put more obstacles on their expansion, delivering a stinging blow to a central pillar of the AI industry.

Of voters polled by NBC News on Election Day, 76 percent said they opposed data centers in their communities. Dozens of local communities voted directly to restrict development through ballot measures. And upset winners like Texas Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa and Michigan's Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed support moratoriums on development.

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Data centers lost the midterms

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