Blue Wave Crashes Into Data Centers

Voters sent a powerful message against data centers during this week's midterm elections. Democrats won key races across the country, and experts say anger over data centers helped push them to victory. Where data centers were directly on the ballot, voters rejected them by a wide margin. It was one of the biggest tests yet of how the public feels about these massive tech buildings.

Exit polls showed just how much data centers mattered to voters. In an NBC News poll, 23 percent of voters called data centers 'crucial' in deciding how they voted for Congress. Another 33 percent said data centers were a 'major' factor. And a full 76 percent said they would oppose building a new data center in their own community.

Technology watchdog groups, which keep an eye on how tech companies affect everyday people, say the results prove that the public is pushing back against these facilities. Political consultant Brendan Steinhauser said data centers tap into deep worries people have. He once ran a U.S. Senate campaign and now leads a group called the Alliance for Secure AI. He believes voters see data centers as a symbol of bigger problems with powerful tech companies.

Lori Lodes, president of a group called Climate Power, said the data center issue connected strongly to concerns about the cost of living. She told reporters that it 'really defined affordability for folks.' Governors, senators, and newly elected House members all saw the issue as a big opportunity to connect with voters. The results suggest that many Americans are worried about how data centers affect their energy bills and their neighborhoods.

Data centers are large buildings filled with computers that store and process information for the internet and artificial intelligence. They use enormous amounts of electricity, which can raise energy costs for nearby residents. Many communities have fought to stop new data centers from being built close to their homes. The election results suggest that fight is growing stronger across the nation.

In other news from Election Day, Democrat Jon Rosenthal was projected to defeat Republican Bo French in the race for Texas Railroad Commissioner. Meanwhile, manufacturing company 3M agreed to pay $7.35 billion to settle claims tied to harmful chemicals it used in firefighting foam. These chemicals, sometimes called 'forever chemicals,' can stay in the environment and in people's bodies for a very long time. The settlement covers personal injury claims from people who say they were hurt by the chemicals.