AI data centers lose 38 of 40-plus US ballot measures

Anti-data-center positions won 38 of the more than 40 ballot measures that addressed the facilities across 13 states in the 2026 US midterms, 404 Media reported. Six cities voted to ban new data centers outright. Twelve more imposed megawatt consumption caps.

The loudest result came in Texas. Governor Greg Abbott lost his reelection bid by more than 700,000 votes to Democrat Gina Hinojosa, after taking over $9 million from data-center-related donors and campaigning on the line that "Texas is the epicenter of AI development." Hinojosa's campaign kept his pro-build record front and center through the race.

"People don't want to see data centers in their backyards," said Michael Whitesides, deputy communications director for Local Progress. "They see rising costs for basic goods while billionaire-backed facilities consume community resources." 404 Media tied the backlash to elevated power bills, water consumption, and air-quality complaints near existing sites.

Down the ticket, incumbents who had backed hyperscale projects lost in places that rarely make national news. George Hensley, the Burgin, Kentucky mayor, was the only name on his ballot and still lost to write-in candidate Joe Monroe. Yukon, Oklahoma's mayor was removed in a recall tied to his hyperscale support. Going the other way, Kim Rooney in Asheville, North Carolina and Amanda Rodrigues in San Marcos, Texas won mayoral races on explicitly anti-data-center platforms.

Elon Musk, who the piece reports spent $224 million in Texas backing pro-data-center candidates, posted after the results: "Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now."