Voters in Key Midterm Races Express Opposition to Data Centers Amid Political Debate

DES MOINES, Iowa — Dawn Vogel, a Republican county supervisor in rural Buchanan County, Iowa, has expressed concern over the rapid proliferation of data centers across the United States. Vogel voted earlier this year for a moratorium that temporarily bans data centers from being established in her county, which supported President Donald Trump by a margin of 63% to 35% in the 2024 election. In Washington, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have proposed a similar nationwide moratorium. "I don’t think this is a Republican or Democratic issue," Vogel stated at the Iowa State Association of Counties’ annual conference in late August, noting that she has not encountered any local voters who support data centers. "It’s an issue of what’s the best use for the land, what’s the best use for our natural resources," she added. This perspective aligns Vogel with a growing populist coalition opposing data centers, which is mobilizing at various levels of government as the midterm elections approach. An NBC News Decision Desk Poll conducted from August 20 to September 1 found that 69% of respondents oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local areas, with 45% indicating strong opposition. This sentiment contrasts with President Donald Trump’s recent comments on Truth Social, where he argued that communities should welcome data centers for economic growth. Voters along a recent NBC News road trip from Nebraska to New Jersey, which included eight swing districts and two significant Senate races, expressed a collective disapproval of data centers in their communities. Tamara Clark, a 49-year-old Democratic voter from Ohio, voiced her concerns, stating that data centers increase utility costs for local residents. In her district, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, is leveraging this issue against her Republican opponent, Derek Merrin, who supported tax breaks for data center construction. Meanwhile, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, who previously advocated for data centers, has introduced legislation requiring utility companies to charge these operators adequately for their resource consumption. This shift reflects a broader change among officials who once viewed data centers as economic opportunities. According to the NBC News Decision Desk poll, while Republican voters show more support for data centers than Democrats and independents, a majority still oppose them, with 57% against and 43% in favor. The poll also revealed that 81% of Democrats and 71% of independents oppose data center construction in their communities. Supporters of data centers, including labor unions involved in their construction, argue that they provide significant job opportunities and high wages. One anonymous data center worker in Ohio reported earning as much as $5,000 a week, including overtime, from a union job, highlighting the economic benefits seen by some in the industry.