U.S. voters pass sweeping restrictions on AI and data centers as Big Tech calls backlash “anti-Trump,” not “anti-tech”
In the 2026 U.S. midterms, voters backed 38 of 44 measures across 10 states to restrict data centers and elected officials promising AI crackdowns, including Texas Democrat Gina Hinojosa as governor. Industry allies downplayed the result as an anti-Trump wave rather than an anti-tech mandate, while NBC exit polls showed three in four voters oppose data centers. Analysts warn the slowdown could delay U.S. AI infrastructure, benefit China, and push hyperscalers such as Amazon and Google to build overseas.
The article reports a voter backlash against AI and data center construction in the 2026 U.S. midterms, with dozens of ballot measures passed and key gubernatorial outcomes that threaten future data center projects. It carries direct industry implications for U.S. AI infrastructure, Big Tech investment, and the U.S.-China AI race, drawing on Ars Technica and cited outlets such as Axios and Bloomberg.
Source: Ars Technica · AI · arstechnica.com
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