Several counties in the U.S. have put data center concerns on the midterm ballot, and early results show that Americans are overwhelmingly voting against them. According to Data Centers on the Ballot, 33 measures restricting data center development have already won, with six more questions leading. Only one measure in Harwood, North Dakota, which adds an extra review process for industrial projects, including data centers, has failed, while a further five have no posted results. This is a major setback for the Trump administration, which has been pushing for AI development in the U.S., but not a surprising result, as one database has shown that “America hates data centers,” with polls showing that 70% of Americans oppose AI data center build-outs.
👨💻 THREAD on how data center-related ballot measures are faring tonightdata centers are on the ballot in ~40 localities across 13 states, including proposed bans, votes on specific projects, and recalls of pro-data center politiciansNovember 4, 2026
Note that the issues put to a vote are varied, ranging from outright permanent data center bans to moratoriums, time-limited actions, limitations based on size or consumption, and more. The mid-term elections also resulted in the recall of the mayor and two council members in Piqua, Ohio, and the mayor of Yukon, Oklahoma, for previously supporting data center bans. A second tracker of some 46 data center measures across 10 states reveals that of 33 measures to limit data centers, every single one is set to be passed.
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