President Trump’s push for rapid AI data center expansion has put some Republican lawmakers in a bind ahead of the midterm elections. As the White House accelerates infrastructure growth to compete with China, several GOP candidates in close races have distanced themselves from the president’s enthusiasm, citing voter concerns over rising electricity bills, strained power grids, and loss of local zoning control. Some have called for construction moratoriums or demanded protections against higher utility costs.

Democrats have seized on the backlash, running ads portraying Republicans as supporters of unchecked data center growth. In response, Republicans have shifted from praising expansion to positioning themselves as opponents of unfettered development. Trump met with tech executives on Tuesday to discuss AI, which he calls “super intelligence,” and reiterated that data center build-out is vital for U.S. technological supremacy over China.

He has dismissed critics, calling a New York moratorium “a terrible decision” and claiming communities opposing data centers want to be “backwards and poor.” A New York Times and Siena University poll found 61% of voters oppose data center construction, with voters split on which party is better suited to address the issue. The legislative effort to curb utility costs stems from Trump’s own initiative to address public anxiety over soaring energy bills. Notable Republicans pushing back include Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado, who introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act; Senator Jon Husted of Ohio, sponsoring the Senate version amid a tight race; Mike Rogers of Michigan, supporting a one-year moratorium; and Representative Tom Barrett of Michigan, who introduced legislation to block federal incentives for data centers.