Voters rejected data centers in every ballot measure but one

Voters backed data center limits in all but one measure with results in: Harwood, North Dakota.

According to CNBC, Engadget, Wired and 404 Media, citing Ballotpedia and Data Centers on the Ballot, voters sided against data centers in every contest with results available except one. That covers contests with results, not all of them, and results were incomplete as of Wednesday. Counts differ by outlet: CNBC counted 41 measures in 10 states, Engadget 45 in 10 states, and 404 Media said more than 40 races in 13 states.

Per Engadget, 33 restriction measures had passed by early Wednesday and six more were projected, with five localities yet to post. They included bans, moratoriums, energy-use limits and public-approval requirements. Bans in Urbana and Hubbard, Ohio, passed with 76% and 77%. In Harwood, voters rejected an added review of large industrial projects, including data centers.

Sherrod Brown defeated Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio after calling him 'the face of data centers.' In Texas, Gina Hinojosa unseated Gov. Greg Abbott; CNBC says she blamed him for the rapid buildout. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) said the revolt against data centers was one of the top issues of the election. Per Wired, an industry super PAC spent $1.5 million backing Darline Graham in South Carolina; she lost to Annie Andrews, who favors a moratorium. The Hill reported that environmental groups and Big Tech were working on a development framework.

What to watch: the remaining results.

“The revolt against data centers was one of the top issues of the 2026 election.”Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas)

The facts we checked

According to CNBC, Engadget, Wired and 404 Media, citing Ballotpedia and Data Centers on the Ballot. Results were incomplete as of Wednesday.

1. CNBC, citing Ballotpedia, counted 41 local data center ballot measures in 10 states. Engadget, citing Data Centers on the Ballot, counted 45 in 10 states. 404 Media said more than 40 races in 13 states. Outlets' counts differ.Figure · CNBC, Engadget, 404 Media
2. Voters sided against data centers in every measure except one, according to a Ballotpedia analysis and results CNBC gathered on Wednesday. This covers contests with results available, not all of them.Reported · CNBC
3. The exception was Harwood, North Dakota, where voters rejected an added review of large industrial projects, including data centers. Engadget describes it as an amendment requiring public hearings before approval.Fact · CNBC, Engadget
4. As of early Wednesday, 33 measures to restrict data centers had passed and six more were projected to, according to Data Centers on the Ballot. Five localities had not posted results.Reported · Engadget
5. Measures that passed included outright bans, temporary moratoriums, energy-use limits and requirements for public approval. Bans in Urbana and Hubbard, Ohio passed with 76% and 77% respectively.Reported · Engadget
6. Ohio had the most measures: 21 according to CNBC and Wired (Engadget says 20).Figure · CNBC, Wired, Engadget
7. Democrat Sherrod Brown defeated Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio after calling him 'the face of data centers.'Fact · CNBC, Wired, Engadget
8. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated Gov. Greg Abbott. CNBC says she blamed him for the rapid data center buildout, saying he put the tech industry's interests ahead of local communities.Fact · CNBC, 404 Media, Wired
9. In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for governor. CNBC says she supports a 'conditional moratorium' on data centers.Reported · CNBC
10. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) said: 'The revolt against data centers was one of the top issues of the 2026 election.'Quote · CNBC, Wired
11. Michael Whitesides of Local Progress told 404 Media: 'These midterms sent a clear message — people don't want to see data centers in their backyards.'Quote · 404 Media
12. Building the Future, an industry super PAC, spent $1.5 million backing Darline Graham in South Carolina. She lost to Democrat Annie Andrews, who favors a moratorium.Reported · Wired
13. On election day, The Hill reported that environmental groups and Big Tech companies were working on a 'Responsible Data Center Development Collaborative' to create a development framework.Reported · Wired
14. Elon Musk posted on X: 'Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now.'Quote · CNBC, 404 Media, Wired

Sources

• CNBCVoters rebuff data centers in every ballot measure except one during the 2026 midterms
• 404 MediaAmerican Voters Overwhelmingly Reject AI Data Centers
• WiredThe Results Are In: Voters Hate Data Centers
• EngadgetAmericans overwhelmingly voted against data centers in the midterms
• The RegisterAmerica unites on one issue: Reining in datacenters
• The New York TimesVoters Rejected A.I. in the Midterms. Now Comes an Era of Scrutiny.