In Edgewater, Florida, voters overwhelmingly approved adding a data center ban to the city charter

A growing backlash against AI and data center expansion was on full display at the ballot box on Tuesday, as voters across multiple states rejected proposed projects and related proposals.

The opposition was also reflected in the broader political landscape. Democratic lawmakers secured the House and Senate, as well as several key gubernatorial races, campaigning on promises to slow AI development and rein in data center construction.

Voters reject AI infrastructure|
Residents in more than 30 localities across nine states supported measures ranging from temporary construction freezes to outright bans. In Edgewater, Florida, voters overwhelmingly approved adding a data center ban to the city charter.

Texas, Ohio, and Georgia have attracted major technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI. However, growing public opposition has pushed some political leaders to reconsider their support.

In Texas, Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott after promising a moratorium on new projects. More than a quarter of the tech industry's planned data center development is expected to take place in the state.

In Georgia, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms secured victory after campaigning on a moratorium on new data center construction.

In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton won after calling for an immediate, conditional moratorium on data center development. Her position comes as Meta and Amazon Web Services plan to invest a combined $3 billion in data centers in the state.

Democratic candidates in more than 130 federal and gubernatorial races used advertisements criticizing technology companies and data center expansion.

Even some Republican leaders who previously supported AI development began promising tighter regulations.

The growing resistance is worrying banks and investors financing these projects, as community opposition increases financial risks.

Tech companies are now hiring local representatives and promoting data centers as computer campuses to improve public acceptance, but the strategy faces mixed reactions.