US midterm voters reject data centre expansion in 40 of 41 measures

Voters in Tuesday's US midterm elections rejected data centre development in all but one of 41 ballot measures addressing the issue, signalling strong bipartisan opposition to the industry's expansion. The measures spanned the country, with Ohio accounting for 21 of the votes. Analysts say the results reflect concerns over rising energy costs, water consumption, and job stability linked to AI-driven construction booms. Only Harwood, North Dakota, voted against imposing new limits. The backlash influenced key races, with Democrats like Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Gina Hinojosa in Texas winning on anti-data centre platforms. With Democrats set to control Congress, increased AI regulation and oversight are expected, while tech stocks have already experienced significant volatility.