Time Magazine is reporting that Republican politicians in key states are rapidly pivoting their stances on data centers as public opinion shifts against the facilities. The magazine said that less than a year ago, state leaders across the political spectrum were actively seeking data centers, offering incentives and infrastructure promises. However, between March and July, national polls indicated a 12-point shift in public sentiment against new data centers, driven by concerns over resource consumption, rising electricity bills and potential job losses due to artificial intelligence.
In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton proposed blocking data centers that use Chinese technology and holding them accountable for undermining children's safety with AI bots. This follows Gov. Greg Abbott's announcement of a pause on new data centers, a reversal from his earlier declaration of Texas as an "epicenter of AI development." Michigan's GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers, who previously supported data center construction, now calls for a one-year moratorium. His opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, demands data centers cover their own power costs, limit water use and involve local communities in decision-making. In Florida, Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican gubernatorial nominee, spent more than $2 million on an ad promising to "protect" the state from data centers, a stark contrast to his earlier mockery of opponents.
President Donald Trump, however, remains a vocal supporter of data centers, viewing them as crucial for U.S. dominance in technology. He said communities that reject data centers are "making a mistake." Time Magazine noted that Trump's position complicates efforts for Republican candidates to convince voters of their commitment to push back against AI infrastructure.
The issue is not exclusive to Republicans. In Wisconsin, Republican gubernatorial nominee Rep. Tom Tiffany has criticized his Democratic opponent, David Crowley, for his stance on data centers and highlighted his own opposition to tax incentives for them. Crowley advocates for a balanced approach, stating that "all data centers are not all created equal." Pennsylvania's Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, also running for governor, now backs a temporary moratorium on new data centers, a change from her earlier support. Her new position is even stricter than incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro, who, after touting an Amazon data center as a major investment, has since revoked fast-track approval for new data warehouses.
Ohio's Senate race between Sen. Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown is heavily influenced by the data center debate. A memo from Senate Republicans' campaign arm, first reported by Axios, indicated that data centers are a significant liability for Husted, who is trailing Brown. Brown's campaign portrays Husted as responsible for the proliferation of "energy-sucking facilities" in Ohio. In the state's gubernatorial contest, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy proposes that communities hosting data centers should have their home electricity bills paid, while his opponent, Amy Acton, demands mandatory union workers for tech centers.
Time Magazine reported that the rapid expansion of data centers is meeting increasing local resistance. Last month alone, 150 localities banned such centers, bringing the total to more than 500, according to The Information. Data centers currently consume 4% of total U.S. electric consumption. Virginia, the largest hub, has 184 sites, using enough electricity for 2.3 million homes, with 25% of the state's energy going to data centers, according to Eisenbach Consulting. The magazine concluded that the combined threats of resource depletion, higher energy costs and potential job losses are making the tech revolution a source of anxiety for voters, creating a political challenge for candidates, especially when President Trump does not align with the anti-data center sentiment.