Democrats, Republicans on same page as data centers become bipartisan political target

Local and state candidates across both parties are increasingly targeting data centers as a key campaign issue, blaming them for rising electricity bills as AI investments drive massive energy demands. The bipartisan backlash is particularly intense in Virginia’s suburbs, where voters are becoming single-issue opponents of data center expansion despite the industry’s economic benefits.

The big picture: Data centers have become an unexpected political lightning rod, uniting Republicans and Democrats in opposition to what they see as corporate freeloading on local energy infrastructure.

• In Prince William County, Virginia, both Republican Patrick Harders and Democrat George Stewart agreed to block future data centers, with Stewart criticizing “massive companies having us, as residents, pay for their energy.”
• State Senator Danica Roem, a Democrat representing part of Prince William County, warned that “there are a lot of people willing to be single-issue, split-ticket voters based on this.”

What you should know: The issue is reshaping local elections even as statewide candidates remain more cautious about taking strong positions.

• Some Virginia elections have already been lost over data center opposition, while others have turned into competitions over which candidate will be toughest on the industry.
• In the 30th House of Delegates district, both Republican incumbent Geary Higgins and Democratic challenger John McAuliff are running ads focused on data center resistance.

Key political positions: Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates offer contrasting approaches to the data center boom.

• Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears says data centers are “here to stay” and blames higher energy costs on liberal environmental policies.
• Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger argues tech companies should “pay their own way” for electricity but hasn’t embraced the more aggressive restrictions many activists want.
• Outgoing GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin previously called data centers an “immense opportunity for localities across the commonwealth.”

Why this matters: The opposition reflects growing grassroots anger at wealthy tech companies benefiting from local infrastructure without residents seeing proportional benefits.

• Faiz Shakir, adviser to Bernie Sanders and founder of progressive group More Perfect Union, called it a missed opportunity for Democrats, noting “the people are way ahead of the politicians.”
• Elena Schlossberg, co-founder of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, even supported a Republican candidate over a Democrat based solely on their stronger anti-data center stance.

The energy impact: Data centers’ massive electricity demands are straining local grids and driving up costs for residents.

• Critics argue the industry’s rapid growth is outpacing states’ ability to accurately project costs and revenue impacts.
• A Good Jobs First report found that “the industry’s high-velocity growth, combined with the virtually automatic structure of the state tax exemptions, is preventing states from making accurate cost projections.”

What advocates want: Data center opponents are pushing for specific policy changes if Democrats win statewide offices.

• Closing tax loopholes that allow tech companies to be taxed as bank clients rather than at standard corporate rates.
• Resurrecting bipartisan legislation requiring more environmental assessments before data centers can be built.
• Making developers pay their “fair share” of infrastructure costs.

Room for disagreement: The tech industry maintains it seeks community dialogue and incorporates local feedback into development processes.

• Kevin Miller, Amazon Web Services’ vice president of global data centers, said the company “connects and listens to residents and local leaders by taking their feedback and incorporating that input directly into our development and operational processes.”