These Midterm Races Will Decide Data Centers’ Political Fate
Data centers have become a contentious political issue in the upcoming US midterm elections, with candidates using opposition to them as a campaign strategy. The debate centers on energy consumption and local impact, potentially influencing tight races in states like Ohio.
Why it matters
The politicization of data center infrastructure reflects growing public concern over energy usage and the environmental footprint of the digital economy.
From surveillance and DOGE to Big Tech money and religious extremism, the midterms have never been more WIRED. Data centers are no exception: The public has rapidly turned on them since the beginning of the year.
The opposition is bipartisan, with many Republicans making a rare break from President Donald Trump. Candidates on both sides of the aisle are trying to attack their opponents for being pro–data center (or not anti–data center enough). I’ve spotted at least five candidates who have been given the derogatory “Data Center [Name]” moniker by their opponents, in an attempt to highlight their connections to the industry. (That includes two guys named Derek/Derrick getting this treatment.)
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