Voters in at least 33 US communities backed restrictions on data centers in Tuesday's midterm elections, ranging from outright bans and temporary moratoriums to energy-use caps and requirements for a public vote before construction2. Only one local measure, in North Dakota, went the way of those supporting construction, according to the tracker Data Centers on the Ballot as reported by Stateline.
The Washington Post reported that voters in more than 29 jurisdictions overwhelmingly passed data center bans or restrictions, and that they elected gubernatorial and Senate candidates pledging tougher regulation1. S&P reported that 145-plus US projects were delayed or canceled through early August.
Democrats take Congress amid electricity-bill anger
Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress amid voter anger over electricity bills and the AI infrastructure boom. In an NBC News exit poll, 56% of voters said AI and data centers were a crucial or major factor in their vote for Congress.
Ohio ban blocks 1,000MW Amazon campus
One named project is already exposed. Trenton, Ohio, voters passed a ban on data centers above 25MW with 80% of the vote, according to unofficial results reported by WVXU. The ban blocks the city's plan to annex around 600 acres for a 1,000MW Amazon data center campus. Because the ban applies only within city limits, the AWS project could still proceed if the land stays in the surrounding townships, though St. Clair Township has moved to ban data centers in its own zoning, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Whether the ban affects a separate facility already under construction in the city's industrial park is disputed.
AWS and the Data Center Coalition have been approached for comment.
Capital markets context
The election results land days after two of the largest AI infrastructure financings of the year. Microsoft priced a $25 billion bond offering on October 30 to fund AI-driven capital expenditures[2], and Oracle filed on November 2 to sell $20 billion in equity and debt for its AI and cloud buildout[1]. ANALYSIS The wave of local restrictions adds a permitting and political risk layer to the capital already committed by hyperscalers, potentially widening the gap between dollars raised and megawatts deployed.