Did data centre backlash sway US midterm voters?

A US midterms voter poll suggests data centres were a highly motivating issue for many Americans, with 56% calling them a "crucial or major" factor in their vote and 76% opposing new construction in their community. The sentiment was stronger among Democrat voters, following Pew Research showing about half of Americans view data centres as "mostly bad" for the environment and energy costs. However, data centres ranked below issues like government corruption (90%) and cost of living (89%). Democrats flipped Senate seats in Texas, Ohio, and Iowa, which have significantly more data centres than the national median, though analysts say other factors also influenced voters. New state leaders may impose regulations, but experts say construction delays won't stop the AI build-out entirely.