Data centers lost the midterms

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Data Centers Suffer Defeats in Midterms

   Voters across the United States rejected artificial intelligence infrastructure during the midterm elections, approving measures designed to restrict energy-hungry data centers. Ballot results nationwide showed communities pushing back against tech expansion, with voters approving 40 out of 41 proposed ballot measures to rein in the facilities. CBS News exit polls indicated that big majorities of voters opposed building data centers in their communities, leading to a wave of newly elected Democrats pledging to clamp down on the industry. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence data center stocks and Elon Musk's SpaceX declined following the electoral outcomes.

   Why it matters

   The electoral pushback signals a rising wave of scrutiny for major technology companies that rely heavily on massive energy-consuming facilities. While industry builders gathered for a conference during the midterms, voters delivered widespread legislative defeats that could slow down future technological expansion. Observers note that the outcomes raise financial risks for artificial intelligence infrastructure and related market sectors.

   What is confirmed

   • Voters nationwide approved 40 out of the 41 ballot measures proposed to rein in data centers.
   • CBS News exit polls found that big majorities of voters opposed the building of data centers in their community.
   • AI data center stocks and Musk's SpaceX declined after election results raised risks of a slowdown.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Ballot measures will not derail data centers according to industry commentary.

   What to watch next

   • Implementation of newly approved local and state ballot restrictions on data centers
   • Further market reactions from tech giants and AI infrastructure investors
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. www.newsweek.com — Correction policies and requests
   2. flipboard.com — Beloved singer’s wife killed after welcoming robbery suspects with lemonade
   3. www.theverge.com — Here’s Nintendo’s overview trailer for the Ocarina of Time remake.
   4. CNBC — AI data center stocks and Musk's SpaceX decline as Texas governor result raises risks of a slowdown
   5. The New York Times — Voters Rejected A.I. in the Midterms. Now Comes an Era of Scrutiny.
   6. The Atlantic — Americans Really Don’t Like Data Centers
   7. The Verge — Data centers lost the midterms
   8. Rolling Stone — The Votes Are In: Americans Don’t Want Data Centers
   9. truthout.org — The GOP Wasn’t the Only Midterms Loser. Voters Slapped Data Centers With Limits.
   10. www.cbsnews.com — Data centers were not winners in the 2026 elections, CBS News exit polls find
   11. www.chicagotribune.com — Data centers took a beating in the midterm elections. A reckoning may be ahead for tech giants.
   12. www.businessinsider.com — Data center builders met during the midterms. Here's what they said.
   confidence 90%