Data center ballot measures fail overwhelmingly in midterm elections

Voters rejected 40 of 41 ballot measures nationwide aimed at restricting or blocking data center development, a significant setback for local opposition groups despite their grassroots campaigns.

First covered Nov 12, 2026 · 6:00 AM PT · 1 article

Data center ballot measures fail overwhelmingly in midterm elections — Image via insideclimatenews.org

Coverage

1d Inside Climate News How Data Center Opponents Won the Election — Data center developers had a rough election, losing 40 of 41 ballot measures nationwide. The volunteers behind one of those measures celebrated this week at…

More coverage from around the web

foxbusiness.com Voters reject data center expansion across US as AI industry faces growing backlash

renewableenergyworld.com Voters overwhelmingly rejected data centers in the midterms - here's where developers will have a tough time

cnbc.com Voters rebuff data centers in every ballot measure except one during the 2026 midterms

aljazeera.com How the US midterm elections reflected resistance to data centres

wbaltv.com Voters overwhelmingly reject data centers in their communities on Election Day

Discussion

Bluesky: @dangearino.bsky.social Dan Gearino · 21h ago · 12 ♥ Data center opponents won last week thanks to old-fashioned organizing. Here’s how it went down in one Ohio city. · @dangearino.bsky.social Dan Gearino · 20h ago · 7 ♥ "If I were a data center developer, I’d be chomping on antacids right now." We hope they've got some Tums! 😎 · @dangearino.bsky.social Dan Gearino · 23h ago · 3 ♥ How data center opponents won last week: A combination of effective grassroots organizing and inept adversaries: insideclimatenews.org/news/1211202...

Appeared in: 2026-11-13 (#18)

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