Data centers have emerged as a significant issue in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, capturing attention even in urban areas like Brooklyn, New York. At a local election event hosted by Newsreel in Brooklyn, discussions consistently centered on the expanding role of AI and the rapid development of data centers. This focus reflects a broader concern as communities grapple with the impacts of these massive facilities, which require large amounts of energy and have sparked political and grassroots opposition due to environmental, health, and economic worries.

A recent Data Center Watch report revealed that nearly $200 billion worth of data center projects were delayed or blocked during the first half of 2026 because of political and neighborhood resistance. States including New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, and Virginia are now debating how to enforce stricter transparency and regulations on data center growth. Virginia alone, often called the "data center capital of the world," is planning hundreds of additional centers, underscoring the scale of the issue and its influence on local governance and elections.

Concerns voiced at the Brooklyn event reveal a deep mistrust of tech companies, seen as making secretive deals with local authorities and contributing to community degradation. Panelists and attendees emphasized the emotional weight of losing control over local environments, with data centers symbolizing broader frustrations about wealth inequality and technological advancement leaving many behind. Discussions also highlighted the limited, often temporary, job benefits from data centers, which contrasts with their long-term physical and social impacts on affected neighborhoods.

The growing backlash against data centers is influencing broader political debates, including within the Democratic Party, where labor unions may support these projects for their promise of jobs, but skepticism remains about their real and sustained benefits. As AI technologies and infrastructure rapidly expand, the political landscape is witnessing an intensification of voter concern over who profits and who suffers, making data centers—and by extension, AI—a pivotal midterm election issue far beyond the traditional tech hubs.