AI, electricity bills and voter anger. How data centres tanked Trump's midterm hopes

America's artificial intelligence revolution was supposed to make the United States more powerful, strengthen its economy and help it stay ahead of China. Instead, the massive infrastructure powering that revolution has emerged as an unexpected political liability for Donald Trump, with angry voters turning against data centres and handing Democrats a powerful weapon in the 2026 midterm elections.

According to a report by CNN, Democrats successfully turned public opposition to data centre construction into an election issue, targeting Republican candidates who supported the industry's expansion. In Texas, James Talarico's campaign used the growing resentment against data centres to take on Republican Ken Paxton, while similar anti-data centre campaigns gained ground in other states. The campaign was part of a broader Democratic strategy that connected the expansion of AI infrastructure to rising household costs, electricity bills and concerns about corporate influence. The issue gained traction beyond Texas, with Democrats using opposition to data centres in competitive races across Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina and other states.

Why are Americans increasingly turning against data centres? The rapid expansion of data centres has triggered growing opposition among American communities, with residents questioning whether the economic benefits of the AI boom are worth the costs they could face. What technology companies see as essential infrastructure for the future, many local residents increasingly view as a threat to their electricity bills, water supplies and neighbourhoods. One of the biggest concerns is electricity consumption. Data centres require enormous amounts of power to operate thousands of servers and cooling systems around the clock. As more facilities come up, demand for electricity rises, putting additional pressure on local power grids. Residents fear that utilities will have to invest in expensive infrastructure to meet this demand, with some of the costs potentially passed on to ordinary households through higher electricity bills. Water consumption has emerged as another major concern. Many data centres use water-based cooling systems to prevent servers from overheating. In regions already struggling with water shortages, residents worry that large facilities could put further pressure on limited supplies. The backlash also extends to environmental and neighbourhood concerns. Residents have raised questions about noise from cooling equipment, backup generators, construction activity and the conversion of large stretches of land into industrial facilities. They have also questioned the tax incentives offered to technology companies, arguing that these projects may generate enormous profits for corporations without creating enough permanent jobs or economic benefits for local communities.

Why is the US building so many data centres? The United States is rapidly expanding its data centre infrastructure because of the growing demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services. The AI boom has significantly increased the need for computing power, with companies requiring thousands of specialised computer chips and powerful servers to train AI models, process information and generate responses. The expansion is also driven by America's competition with China. The Trump administration views AI as a strategic technology that could shape future economic growth, military capabilities and global influence. Building more data centres is therefore seen as essential to maintaining US leadership in the global AI race. Technology giants such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta are pouring billions of dollars into new facilities to support their AI ambitions. These investments are also driven by the growing use of cloud services, online platforms and applications that require enormous computing capacity.