"The data center backlash has been ferocious. A handful of contests will test whether it translates into votes."
"Data centers have become political napalm. Election Day will show how far it’s spread.
The supercomputing hubs are the unifying force of the midterms, triggering the latent doomerism of voters across the political spectrum.
Republicans’ MAGA base fears artificial intelligence-powered surveillance. Environmentalists see them lighting the planet on fire. Farmers in rural Texas worry the facilities will guzzle precious water resources. And community leaders from Memphis, Tennessee, to Linn County, Iowa, are villainizing the tech titans blowing dirty air into their neighborhoods while reaping record profits.
“Data centers are the boogeyman du jour in this election cycle. There’s no doubt about it,” said Barrett Marson, a Republican consultant in Arizona."
