Why data centers lost midterms support as voters backed tougher limits

Local votes target expansion

Voters faced data center questions in 45 local ballot measures nationwide. By Wednesday morning, results compiled by Redbud Consulting showed that 33 would restrict development. Wells, Maine, favored a 180-day pause on large data centers, backdated to mid-June 2026. Several Ohio cities voted to ban facilities over 25 megawatts, while El Dorado, Kansas, approved a 10-year ban on centers with peak electrical loads above 10 megawatts.

Texas leaders support limits

Texas Democratic Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa supports a statewide moratorium. She will replace Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, who announced an audit that could slow new data centers’ connections to the state energy grid, but has also praised expansion.

Democratic State Rep. James Talarico won a Senate race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to the article. Both favored ending some data center tax exemptions and requiring developers to pay energy infrastructure costs; Talarico also highlighted environmental effects and public benefits.

Election results vary

The article also says Michigan Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed supports a moratorium, but later identifies Talarico as the winner of a major Texas Senate race. It does not explain how these two Senate-election claims relate.

Republican Byron Donalds won Florida’s governor’s race over Democrat David Jolly. Donalds opposed an outright ban but introduced a congressional bill requiring developers to pay for their own energy and water needs; Jolly proposed barring hyperscalers for a year. Iowa Democratic Governor-elect Rob Sand opposed a moratorium favored by his challenger.