Data Centers Become a Midterm Election Issue in Brooklyn and Beyond

Artificial intelligence and large data centers have turned into major issues for voters ahead of the midterm elections, even appearing as a central topic at a political event in Brooklyn.

Jack Brewster, founder of the media company Newsreel, hosted the gathering in a dimly lit Brooklyn warehouse just five days before the election. Although the event featured panels on attention spans and midterm forecasts, conversations repeatedly returned to artificial intelligence and the backlash against rapid technological growth.

Outside of the tech industry, data centers have become an intense ballot-box issue that could influence midterm races. A report from Data Center Watch showed that nearly $200 billion in data center projects were delayed, stalled, or blocked during the first half of 2026 due to community and political opposition. At the same time, states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, New York, and Virginia are weighing stricter rules and transparency requirements for new construction.

During a panel discussion on data centers, the article's author asked the crowd who supported AI data centers and was met with boos. Panelists and audience members expressed frustration that major tech companies appear to make secret deals with local officials to build billion-dollar facilities, often using zoning rules that hide construction plans until it is too late for residents to object.

Residents worry about environmental and health risks while dealing with high living costs, creating a deep sense that communities are losing control. While some labor unions support data centers for the temporary jobs they provide during construction, critics note that those positions disappear once the buildings are finished.

Brewster noted that the topic came up in every panel discussion and was heavily featured in questions submitted ahead of time by attendees. He explained that while the backlash in rural areas often centers on people feeling replaced, the concern in places like Brooklyn focuses more on who benefits financially from the boom.

Summary

Voters are increasingly pushing back against the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its physical infrastructure. Data centers have transformed from a niche industry topic into a potent political issue that influences voter sentiment and local debates across the country.