Data Center Boom Puts Republicans in a Bind Ahead of the Midterms

The AI-driven data center building boom is concentrated in Republican-led states, and growing local opposition is turning it into a campaign problem for the GOP, CBS News reports. Citing Cleanview Research, CBS says about 75% of data centers under construction and 80% of those in planning are in predominantly Republican states.

Polling shows opposition to data centers outweighs support by around 30 points, and most Republicans do not want one built near them. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has paused permits and grid hookups for new facilities while facing a tighter-than-expected race, and in Ohio both gubernatorial nominees, Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, have proposed pausing or halting new projects.

Campaigns have spent about $45 million this year on ads that mention data centers, most of them critical, according to AdImpact, with Georgia leading at nearly $13 million. President Trump has defended the facilities, arguing that if the U.S. turns them away they will go to China.

Read the original story at CBS News.