The fight over data centers has erupted as a major issue in the midterm elections. Ads in battleground districts like [ADDRESS], [ADDRESS], [ADDRESS], and [ADDRESS] show Democratic challengers attacking Republican incumbents for supporting data center construction, framing them as drivers of rising electric bills and environmental strain. The debate transcends traditional party lines, with Democrats leveraging voter anger over energy costs and tech excess while some Republicans now oppose data center expansion to distance themselves from corporate favoritism.

A Gallup poll found 71 percent oppose local data center construction, and opposition has risen 12 points since early 2024. In key Senate and governor races in [ADDRESS], [ADDRESS], and [ADDRESS], both parties are running ads on the issue. A Republican Senate candidate in [ADDRESS] recently called for a one-year moratorium, while a GOP leader warned that data center politics threatens Senator [PERSON_NAME] of [ADDRESS].

Democrats see an opening to win rural votes by framing data centers as symbols of tech elitism and A. I. overreach. As [PERSON_NAME], a Democratic pollster, noted, the issue offers a rare chance to shift partisan dynamics in traditionally resistant areas.

The rapid rise of the data center backlash underscores how quickly emerging tech issues can reshape electoral politics.