Data center backlash becomes a 2026 campaign issue as tech PACs spend
Original title: Data center backlash is uniting America
Andreessen- and Brockman-backed Leading the Future has spent $45 million, while an Anthropic-backed group says it raised $80 million.
Opposition to data center buildouts is appearing in US congressional and gubernatorial races as tech-backed super PACs fund both parties. In Texas, James Talarico and Ken Paxton both want centers to pay energy costs and lose some tax breaks, while Gina Hinojosa has called for a statewide moratorium. In Florida, David Jolly pledges a one-year hyperscale ban and Byron Donalds backs ratepayer protections without an outright ban. Cook Political Report rates the Texas governor’s race as leaning Republican and the Senate race a toss-up.
Unconfirmed: The article says the outcomes of the Texas races remain highly uncertain.
- Leading the Future, backed by Marc Andreessen and Greg Brockman, has spent $45 million.
- Public First Action, an Anthropic-backed group, says it has raised $80 million.
- Tomorrow Together launched $4 million in ads for battleground House races.
- Texas ranks second to Virginia in planned data center projects.
- Abbott’s office celebrated a $40 billion Google investment that included three campuses.
- Vendors
- Countries
- United StatesChina
From the original article
13 min read at theverge.com
If there's one issue that seems to activate all kinds of voters in 2026, it's data centers. The rapid buildout of these massive server storage facilities - and the infrastructure construction and expenses that come with them - has sparked local opposition in communities across the country and become a major issue in many congressional and gubernatorial campaigns.
By Lauren Feiner · theverge.com
A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.