Data Centers Become $45M Campaign Issue Across Both Parties

Data centers powering artificial intelligence have emerged as an unexpected flashpoint in the 2026 election cycle, with campaigns and outside groups spending more than $45 million on ads attacking the facilities across gubernatorial, House, and Senate races.

An analysis of political advertising data from AdImpact reveals a rare moment of bipartisan convergence: both Republicans and Democrats are campaigning against data centers, arguing the sprawling facilities receive excessive tax breaks and drive up electricity costs for residents.

Between January and August, spending was nearly evenly split—over $22 million supporting Republican candidates and more than $21 million backing Democrats, according to NPR, which first reported these figures. Democrats ran almost twice as many ads (127 versus 67) and spread their messaging across more states, with ads concentrated in competitive battlegrounds like Wisconsin and Michigan.

Why it matters

The bipartisan opposition to data centers represents a significant shift in how AI infrastructure is perceived politically. As companies race to build facilities for AI workloads, they're encountering organized resistance that crosses traditional party lines—a dynamic that could reshape where and how quickly new capacity gets built. For technology companies investing billions in AI infrastructure, this political headwind arrives at a critical expansion phase.

Voters share the concern

Public sentiment supports the campaign focus. A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found 77% of Americans worried about data centers raising electricity costs, with two-thirds of Democrats and half of Republicans saying they would oppose a data center in their community.

Michael Franz, co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, told NPR that data centers give each party the talking points it wants. Democrats can emphasize environmental concerns, while Republicans can position themselves against big corporations. The issue creates common ground where "MAGA Republicans and liberal Democrats" align, he said.

Georgia and Ohio lead spending

Georgia captured roughly 30% of total data center ad spending, with the state's gubernatorial race accounting for $12.8 million across nine ads—the highest of any single contest.

Ohio's Senate race has become another focal point. Supporters of Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown spent millions describing his opponent, Republican Sen. Jon Husted, as "the face of data centers," accusing him of approving over $2.5 billion in corporate tax breaks while electric bills spiked.

An internal memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, obtained by NPR and first reported by Axios, called data centers a "sleeper issue for the entire election cycle" and warned that a Husted loss would make politicians nationwide wary of the industry.

Husted, who championed data centers as Ohio's lieutenant governor, has since introduced congressional legislation to protect ratepayers from higher electric rates. He told Spectrum News his position has been consistent, emphasizing accountability through local property taxes and hiring requirements.

A local issue going national

Gubernatorial races drove the most spending on data center ads at roughly $32 million, followed by House races at $8 million and Senate races at $5.3 million, according to AdImpact data.

Darrell M. West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Center for Technology Innovation, told NPR that governors face the most pressure because the federal government doesn't play a major role in permitting new data centers. He noted the Republican turn against data centers is particularly striking given the party's pro-business positioning.

President Trump has urged states to continue building data centers while acknowledging they could "use a little public relations help," putting him at odds with many Republican candidates responding to voter concerns.

These details were first reported by NPR.