An analysis says candidates who back a data center pause could win up to 15 of 36 governor races on Tuesday, which could shape where new ones get built.
Data centers have become a real campaign issue. An analysis by Shane Burke of The Information says candidates who support a data center moratorium could win up to 15 of the 36 governors' races on the ballot this Tuesday. Texas, Ohio, Michigan and New York are among the states named.
A moratorium is a temporary halt. In this case, it would stop new data centers from being built for a set period. Data centers are large buildings full of computers. They run websites, apps, cloud storage and artificial intelligence tools.
The analysis says data centers have gone from obscurity to the top of voters' minds. As a result, midterm candidates are now taking a stance on the issue. The material does not spell out which concerns drive voters. Local power bills, jobs and land use near new sites are the kinds of effects that could matter to people living nearby.
The full analysis was not available, so key details are missing. It is unclear which candidates are counted, how the analysis defines support for a pause, or how likely each win is. The phrase "up to 15" is a ceiling, not a forecast that all 15 will happen. Candidates who win may also not be able to enact a pause quickly, or at all.
Voting is on Tuesday. After the results, the next thing to watch is whether any new governor acts on a pause and how that affects plans for new data centers in their state.
Tuesday's governor races could affect where data centers get built, so watch what candidates in your state say about them.
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