Datacenters were on the ballot. US voters rejected them

Key Points:

• Voters in at least 40 jurisdictions across 10 states strongly opposed datacenter development in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, passing numerous bans and moratoriums on these facilities that power AI and online services.
• Ohio saw at least 14 municipalities restrict datacenter projects, including a $2 million Amazon proposal in Sunbury, while Maine and Kansas also approved multiple moratoriums and bans on large datacenters.
• Candidates opposing datacenter expansion won key races, including Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, Georgia governor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Ohio governor Amy Acton, all pledging to impose moratoriums or stricter regulations.
• Anti-datacenter sentiment has become bipartisan, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis previously signing strict regulations, reflecting growing concerns over resource use and the tech industry's impact on communities.
• Analysts warn that the election outcomes, especially Democrats gaining Senate control and anti-datacenter politicians winning in major states like Texas, will slow the pace of datacenter buildout and create challenges for AI and tech legislation.