A voter poll conducted for AP and news organizations found 56% of surveyed voters said data centres were a crucial or major factor in their vote in the US midterms. The poll also found 76% would oppose new data centre construction in their community, with stronger opposition among Democratic voters.
Where
Statewide
When
Nov. 6, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets
Taxes and money
The sources don't state an effect on taxes. They do state these figures.
Monthly spending on building data centres (inflation-adjusted), August 2026$5 billion12Who pays or receives it: Corporate investors in AI and data centre construction
Who's involved
AP and news organizations consortiumConducted voter poll on data centre concerns
BBC VerifyAnalyzed data centre role in campaign and election outcomes
Pew ResearchConducted polling on public views of data centres
Elon MuskPosted on X about orbital computing following election results
Adrian ShelleyDirector of Public Citizen's Texas office, discussed potential state oversight changes
Robert PatersonUniversity of Texas planning professor, discussed potential legislative reforms
The facts
56% of surveyed voters said data centres were crucial or major factor in their vote.12Stated by 2 sources
76% of surveyed voters said they would oppose new data centre construction in their community.12Stated by 2 sources
Democratic voters showed stronger opposition to data centres than other voters.12Stated by 2 sources
90% of voters named government corruption as crucial or major factor in their vote.12Stated by 2 sources
89% of voters named cost of living as crucial or major factor in their vote.12Stated by 2 sources
Texas has 595 data centres, more than Ohio (258) or Iowa (117), compared to 55-state median of 55.12Stated by 2 sources
Texas has 31 ongoing data centre construction projects, the most of any state.12Stated by 2 sources
Democrat Gina Hinojosa is ahead of Republican Greg Abbott in Texas governor's race.3
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
BBC Verify analysis Public backlash against AI infrastructure construction boom might have shaped election outcome.12
BBC Verify Cannot determine how many votes or Senate seats were directly delivered by data centre opposition.12
Adrian Shelley, Public Citizen Texas Appointments and executive orders are potential tools for incoming governor to strengthen data centre oversight.3
Robert Paterson, University of Texas Lawmakers could consider granting counties limited zoning authority over data centres.3
Where the sources disagree
Whether Democratic election gains will lead to stricter data centre oversight in Texas Sources note Democrats won governor's race and state House, which could enable policy changes through appointments, executive action, and legislation [3], but also note divided legislature could constrain reforms [3].
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Did a data centre revolt affect the US midterm election results?
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in Texas's 2026 gubernatorial election. Hinojosa became the state's first Latina governor and the first Democrat elected to the office in more than 30 years. Latino voters, a record turnout in a midterm election, significantly influenced the outcome.
Gina Hinojosa, Democrat, elected Texas governor; Greg Abbott, Republican incumbent governor, defeated; Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS and 2 more
In the November 2026 midterm elections, Latino voters moved sharply toward Democratic candidates, helping Democrats win Texas's Senate seat, governor's office, and all statewide offices on the ballot. Every Texas county voted more Democratic than in the 2024 presidential election.
Gabe Vasquez, Democratic U.S. Representative from New Mexico; Johnny Garcia, Sheriff's deputy who won newly created House district in San Antonio area; James Talarico, Democrat elected to U.S. Senate from Texas and 7 more
Political advertising analytics company Kinetiq Political Insights released research showing Republicans outspent Democrats on TV, radio and digital advertising during the 2026 midterm elections, though Democrats reached swing voters at lower cost.
$nearly $3 billion for republican political advertising spending on TV, radio and digital
Kinetiq Political Insights, political advertising analytics company that conducted research; National Media Insights, research firm that analyzed advertising efficiency; James Talarico, Democratic candidate who won Texas U.S. Senate race
Fox News host Jesse Watters said on his November 5 show that if Texas remains a Democratic state, a Republican will never win the White House again. He made the comments after November 2026 midterm elections in which Democrats won statewide office in Texas, including James Talarico's Senate victory and Gina Hinojosa's gubernatorial win.
Jesse Watters, Fox News host; James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate; Ken Paxton, Republican state attorney general running for Senate and 2 more
James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and Texas state representative, won a U.S. Senate seat in the midterm election on November 3, 2026. He ran with a Christian message emphasizing caring for neighbors and challenging systems that require charity. His victory was part of a broader Democratic gain in which clergy candidates and other religiously-focused Democrats flipped control of Congress.
James Talarico, Texas state representative and Presbyterian seminarian; Democratic U.S. Senate candidate; Adam Hamilton, Megachurch pastor; Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Kansas; Sarah Trone Garriott, Iowa minister; Democratic U.S. House candidate and 3 more
Jon Rosenthal, a Democrat and state representative from Cypress, won election to the Texas Railroad Commission, breaking over 30 years of Republican control of all commission seats. He is a former mechanical engineer with 25 years in the energy industry and four terms in the state House.
Jon Rosenthal, Democrat elected to Texas Railroad Commission; Bo French, Rosenthal's opponent for the commission seat; Ben Shepperd, President of Permian Basin Petroleum Association and 2 more
Forty-six of forty-seven data center-related ballot measures voted on November 3, 2026 passed, with roughly 98% overall support for restrictions including bans, moratoriums, power usage caps, and resident approval requirements. Only Harwood, North Dakota rejected its measure.
Greg Abbott, Republican Governor of Texas who promoted data center recruitment; Gina Hinojosa, Democrat elected Governor of Texas, pledging data center moratorium; Austin McCarty, Attorney handling Texas data center matters at K&L Gates
Elon Musk spent an estimated $474 million on the 2026 midterm election, the most by any non-candidate in U.S. history. He spent approximately $200 million on a Texas Senate race where his candidate lost by 12 points to a Democrat.
$$474 million for spending on 2026 midterm election
Elon Musk, spent estimated $474 million on 2026 election; President Trump, received Musk's support; James Pindell, journalist reporting on Musk's spending and 1 more