Voters across the US back limits on data centers in the 2026 midterms

Summary

Voters in the 2026 midterm elections rejected data center developers at the polls, according to reporting from three outlets. The Verge reports that voters elected candidates who favor moratoriums and passed ballot measures that add obstacles to data center expansion, a blow to a central pillar of the AI industry. WIRED reports that data centers and their supporters did poorly across the ballot, from high-profile Senate races to local rezoning initiatives. Scientific American reports that across 10 states, voters overwhelmingly backed restrictions on data center development or rejected measures that would have eased construction.

Timeline

1. The Verge

   4 Nov 2026, 16:05 UTCSource ↗

   The Verge reports that voters elected candidates who favor moratoriums on data centers and approved ballot measures that put more obstacles in the way of their expansion.

2. WIRED

   4 Nov 2026, 16:56 UTCSource ↗

   WIRED reports that data centers and their supporters did poorly on the ballot in the 2026 midterms, in both high-profile Senate races and local rezoning initiatives.

3. Scientific American

   4 Nov 2026, 23:00 UTCSource ↗

   Scientific American reports that across 10 states, voters overwhelmingly backed restrictions on data center development or rejected measures that would have eased their construction.