US midterm candidates find something to agree on: Reining in datacenters

Candidates for governor in the 2026 US midterm elections showed broad support for limiting new datacentre projects, making the issue a rare point of agreement across party lines. Their positions could influence development through state rules on energy, planning and permits, though a pause or targeted restrictions do not necessarily mean opposition to all datacentres.

Data Center Watch reviewed 74 candidates in 36 states: 43 per cent backed bans or moratoriums, 51 per cent supported tighter rules or conditional development, and about 5 per cent had no stated position. Support for bans was higher among the Democrats studied than Republicans, at 60 per cent versus 30 per cent; candidates from both parties favoured restrictions in eight states. Public concern is also growing: surveys found widespread neighbourhood opposition, while political advertisers spent almost $12 million on social media ads mentioning datacentres between late July and late October.