In the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, data centers have turned into a live campaign issue. In some of the country’s closest Senate and House races, candidates from both parties are going after the industry over power costs, water use, pollution, tax breaks, and who gets the final say locally.
A recent survey found that 61% of U.S. adults oppose new local projects: 69% of Democrats, 54% of Republicans, and 53% of independents. The objections are familiar by now. Higher power and water bills. Pollution. Strained infrastructure. And projections that the sector could soon account for 10% to 15% of U.S. electricity use.
In Ohio, Sherrod Brown has branded Jon Husted as “the face of data centers in Ohio.” A National Republican Senatorial Committee memo reportedly described the issue as a “sleeper.” The same pattern is already showing up in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, and Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.
The industry’s allies have their own numbers ready. They point to a $59.3 billion annual construction rate, to Loudoun County, Virginia, where data centers supply 38% of General Fund revenue, and to roughly 78,000 Virginia jobs in 2023. Critics don’t dispute the headline figures so much as what sits underneath them. They argue that many of the benefits are temporary and propped up by incentives.
For anyone watching competitive races, keep an eye on this. By October 2026, there were more than 500 local restrictions in 46 states. New York had imposed a one-year moratorium. The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act by a 417-3 vote. And 46 projects worth $170 billion had already been delayed or canceled. You can already see the fight spilling into campaign ads and policy battles over utility costs, tax breaks, and local control.
Author: Manuel Bosque
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"es-ES": "Manuel Bosque se ocupa de la cobertura de software en Softonic: programas de escritorio, herramientas de productividad y utilidades pequeñas que resuelven bien un solo problema. Su criterio es práctico —qué hace realmente un programa, qué pide a cambio y a quién le sirve—, y por eso desconfía de las listas de funciones y prefiere probar. Forma parte del equipo que decide cómo se cuenta el software en la web y trabaja a diario con herramientas de IA aplicadas a la producción editorial.",
"fr-FR": "Manuel Bosque couvre les logiciels chez Softonic : programmes de bureau, outils de productivité et petits utilitaires qui résolvent bien un seul problème. Son approche est pratique — ce qu'un logiciel fait vraiment, ce qu'il demande en échange et à qui il s'adresse —, d'où sa méfiance envers les listes de fonctionnalités et sa préférence pour l'essai. Il fait partie de l'équipe qui définit la manière de traiter le logiciel sur le site et travaille au quotidien avec des outils d'IA appliqués à la production éditoriale.",
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"pt-BR": "Manuel Bosque cobre software na Softonic: programas para desktop, ferramentas de produtividade e pequenos utilitários que resolvem bem um problema só. Seu critério é prático — o que um programa realmente faz, o que pede em troca e para quem serve — e por isso desconfia de listas de recursos e prefere testar. Faz parte da equipe que define como o software é abordado no site e trabalha diariamente com ferramentas de IA aplicadas à produção editorial."
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