Political candidates in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio are adjusting their positions on data center development as public opposition to the facilities grows ahead of the midterm elections. Candidates from both major parties have recently proposed stricter regulations or temporary halts on new projects, citing concerns over electricity costs and environmental impacts. The shift follows a July Fox News poll showing that 70 percent of voters oppose local data center construction for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
In Pennsylvania, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed an executive order on Tuesday establishing new requirements for data center developers. The order requires companies to cover their own electricity costs and obtain local approval for projects. This represents a change in tone for the governor, who previously welcomed a $20 billion Amazon data center project and offered the company "exclusive early access" to a fast-track permitting program. Shapiro’s opponent, Republican Stacy Garrity, has criticized his past support for the industry, while Shapiro’s campaign has countered by highlighting Garrity's own previous statements favoring data center attraction.
In Michigan, Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers called for a one-year state-level moratorium on new data centers on Thursday. Rogers stated that a pause is necessary to establish a "fair, transparent approval process." His Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, has proposed "terms of engagement" that would require developers to use closed-loop cooling systems to conserve water and ensure local communities have a "meaningful say" in project approvals. Both candidates are vying for the seat of retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.).
The debate has also intensified in Ohio, where former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is challenging incumbent Sen. Jon Husted (R). Brown has criticized Husted’s past support for data center tax breaks, while Husted’s campaign pointed to his support for legislation requiring developers to pay their share of utility costs. An internal memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) described data centers as a potential liability for Husted, noting that the issue has become a "sleeper issue" for the current election cycle.
The scale of the industry’s presence is substantial; for example, Amazon committed $20 billion to two facilities in Pennsylvania alone. In Michigan and Ohio, the outcome of these races could determine whether the states implement a one-year pause on new developments or introduce strict environmental mandates, such as closed-loop cooling to protect local water supplies. A person living near a proposed site would notice a change in their legal rights regarding local zoning, as several candidates now promise to grant municipalities greater veto power over large-scale tech projects.
These local policy shifts stand in contrast to federal preferences. President Trump has expressed support for data centers, characterizing them as sources of jobs and minimal disruption, though he has also proposed a non-binding policy for them to "pay their own way." The industry, represented by the Data Center Coalition, maintains that the issue is one of public education regarding their water usage and energy payments. As the midterm elections approach, the effectiveness of these new regulations and moratoriums will be tested by upcoming legislative sessions and state-level votes.
What happens next: In Michigan, the Senate race between Rogers and El-Sayed continues ahead of the midterms, which will determine if a state-level moratorium is pursued. In Pennsylvania, Gov. Shapiro's executive order is currently in effect, barring data centers from fast-track permitting. The NRSC memo suggests that if voter perception is not addressed quickly, the political campaign against data centers could expand to other states beyond the current three battlegrounds.