Data Centers Shift Red Counties Toward Democrats in Midterms
Analysis reveals red counties with data centers shifted toward Democrats in midterms, raising concerns over AI projects’ impact on voting patterns.
2 min read
A recent analysis has shown that red counties hosting current or proposed data centers shifted away from the Republican Party in this year’s midterm elections. The study, conducted by Humans First, a conservative advocacy group focused on AI safety and policy, examined public election results alongside data center project records from 1,540 counties in 16 states.
Shift in Voting Patterns
Deep-red counties with large data centers or proposed projects saw a greater shift toward Democrats compared to similar counties without such projects, according to the analysis. The study found that counties with large data centers swayed an additional 2.2 percentage points toward Democrats in the same states. This pattern was observed in 14 out of 16 states and in 25 of the 27 governor and Senate races reviewed.
When the analysis was limited to deep-red counties—those that President Donald Trump won by at least 20 points in 2024—it showed a 2.1-point raw gap between counties with large data centers and similar counties without them. Deep-red counties with proposed projects showed a 1.1 percent gap after controlling for various factors such as past voting patterns, rural or urban status, population size, racial and ethnic composition, and recent voting trends.
Impact on GOP Vote Totals
The group discovered that GOP vote totals fell an additional 1.1 percent in deep-red counties with large data centers compared with similar counties without them, while Democrat vote totals showed no significant change. Humans First stressed that county-level results cannot conclude whether Republicans switched their votes or simply stayed home, noting that their findings show an association rather than proof that data centers changed voting patterns.
“Our analysis looked at how counties with data centers voted and how those counties moved to the left,” said Amy Kremer, chairwoman of Humans First. “I think this happened for the reason I’ve been warning conservatives and Republicans about for some time: People engage politically when issues affect them personally.”
Public Opposition to AI Data Centers
Recent polling shows that a strong majority of Americans oppose AI data centers being constructed in their local area. In the midterm elections, 40 out of 41 data center moratoriums or restrictions passed across the country. In the first half of this year alone, opponents of AI data center construction have blocked or delayed a record number of projects worth nearly $130 billion.
Kremer also highlighted the secretive nature of many data center projects, noting that developers often cut deals behind closed doors using nondisclosure agreements and shell companies. “By the time people in the community find out about the project, it’s too late to stop it,” she said.
These projects can significantly impact the quality of life and financial stability of local communities, she added. “They can increase the cost of electricity and water, while tax abatements are given to trillion-dollar companies—some of the wealthiest companies in the world.”
Source: Breitbart
