Voters Rejected 40 of 41 Anti-Data Center Ballot Measures in 2026 Election

Voters in the 2026 US midterm elections overwhelmingly rejected data center expansion, with 40 of 41 anti-data center ballot measures passing across 10 states. The results represent a major defeat for the tech industry's lobbying efforts. Ohio alone accounted for 21 proposals, all of which passed against data center interests. The sole exception was in Harwood, North Dakota, where voters declined to add a review stage to zoning procedures. Candidates with anti-data center platforms also won gubernatorial races in Nevada, Ohio, Texas, and Georgia. Exit polls showed 56 percent of voters cited data centers as a crucial or major factor in their choices. Elon Musk's $450 million spending on Republican efforts backfired, and analysts expect developers to seek legal loopholes or target less resistant communities.