Democrats' victories in Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial contests, alongside public service commissioner races in Georgia, provide an initial indication of a potential quiet issue for the 2026 midterm elections: the political landscape of AI infrastructure.
TL;DR
- Democrats' recent victories highlight AI infrastructure as a growing political issue for 2026 midterms.
- Candidates in Virginia, New Jersey, and Georgia campaigned on data center energy demands and costs.
- Massive AI data centers are reshaping local politics, sparking debates over energy, water, and land use.
- Voters show concern over data centers, with opposition emerging across the political spectrum.
In Virginia, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger made data centers’ outsize energy demands one of her campaign planks, calling on tech companies to pay their “ fair share” to strengthen the grid. In New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill won the governorship championing, among other issues, legislation that would require data centers to help fund grid modernization and renewable energy investments. And in Georgia, Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard unseated incumbent Republicans on the Public Service Commission, which sets utility rates, after Hubbard complained that big tech companies were being offered “sweetheart deals,” while residents paid much higher rates for electricity.
These wins underscore a striking new reality—that the physical infrastructure of the AI boom isn’t just transforming technology or the economy. As I reported recently, massive AI data centers are also quietly reshaping local and state politics—turning once-niche zoning fights into national debates over the future of energy.
The rapid rise of generative AI, coupled with its immense need for computational resources, has led to the expansion of basic server farms into vast mega-complexes. These sites can cover hundreds of acres, consume electricity comparable to a medium-sized city, and use millions of gallons of water. These facilities are now highly visible, becoming focal points in local disputes concerning energy, water, land, and employment.
Tech giants are criticized by opponents for increasing electricity costs and depleting scarce water resources, and they object to public funding for the tax breaks and infrastructure projects that benefit these companies. Proponents, however, argue that these ventures are a worthwhile investment for governments, providing much-needed economic expansion and tax income to underdeveloped areas.
Currently, critics hold sway with voters. A September poll revealed that a mere 44% of Americans would accept a data center in their vicinity. Opposition isn't solely from the left; even with The Trump administration's focus on AI infrastructure expansion, Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley and certain other party members have voiced worries regarding the unchecked spread of data centers and the potential for increased electricity costs. Some commentators have suggested believe this could evolve into a populist dividing issue in 2026.
To be sure, there are no exit polls yet that clarify whether people cast their votes with data center issues on their minds. But the results suggest the issue resonated—especially in states where major new facilities are planned and electricity rates have risen.
It's evident that as the AI sector expands rapidly, with billions in new ventures launching, expect local disputes concerning water, electricity, and territory to continue influencing electoral outcomes across America.