Data centre issue emerges as key battleground in US midterm races

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 20:08 · Archive

Data centres have become a potent political issue across US midterm races, with candidates on both sides attacking opponents over their stance on the industry.

Data centres have become a potent political issue in US midterm races, with candidates on both sides of the aisle attacking opponents over their stance on the industry. The public has rapidly turned against data centres since the beginning of the year, creating a rare moment of bipartisan opposition that has prompted many candidates to break with their party positions.

In Ohio's Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown has made data centres a cornerstone of his campaign against incumbent Senator Jon Husted. Brown has called Husted 'the face of data centres in Ohio' and run advertisements blaming him for welcoming data centres to the state and driving up energy bills. Senate Democrats have amplified this message, with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blocking a bill sponsored by Husted modeled on the White House's ratepayer protection pledge, calling it 'toothless'.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee acknowledged the issue's power in an August memo warning that Brown's focus on data centres could determine the race's outcome. At least five candidates across multiple races have been branded with 'Data Center' monikers by opponents seeking to highlight industry connections. Data centres have seeped into multiple toss-up Senate races in Michigan, Iowa and Texas, suggesting the issue could swing close elections and ultimately affect the balance of power in Congress.

How it is being reported

• Data centres are turning Trump voters into DemocratsThe backlash could swing close races in the midtermsThe Economist · 12 Oct, 19:23
• These Midterm Races Will Decide Data Centers’ Political FateFrom the Senate to governors’ mansions, candidates are trying to outcompete each other to be the most anti–data center in races across the US.Wired · 11 Oct, 11:00

In this story: Sherrod Brown · Jon Husted · Chuck Schumer · Ohio · Michigan · Iowa · Texas

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem