POLITICO Energy Why some 2026 candidates are making data centers an election issue
Feb 25, 2026
Timothy Cama, POLITICO energy reporter who covers data centers and energy policy, walks through the rise of AI-driven data center buildouts. He discusses why underdog Democrats are making local energy and resource concerns a campaign angle. He highlights specific races and whether voters care about data center growth.
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Rapid Data Center Buildout Across New Regions
- Data centers are expanding rapidly nationwide to power AI and cloud services.
- Growth clusters in Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, and Georgia and often appears in suburbs and exurbs with little prior industrial development.
Local Concerns Drive Political Focus
- Candidates highlight data center impacts like high energy use, water needs, and environmental concerns to tap into voter worries about affordability and resources.
- These arguments surface at local meetings because big facilities are new to many towns and create visible local concerns.
Use Data Centers To Talk Affordability Strategically
- Do use data center concerns as a wedge on affordability if incumbents aren't addressing local electricity and water impacts.
- Candidates can gain traction by promising protections for bills, water, and jobs where voters feel unheard.