Democratic leaders in crucial US swing states are facing a growing backlash from their own constituents over their enthusiastic support for the construction of large, energy-intensive data centres. This push for AI infrastructure, championed by figures often seen as potential future presidential candidates, is creating a significant divide within the party and could undermine their prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.
In Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, widely considered a potential Democratic frontrunner for the 2028 presidential election, has drawn fierce criticism for her active role in promoting a controversial $16 billion data centre project by OpenAI and Oracle in Saline township. Local residents, including long-time Democratic voters like Sarah Brabbs, have expressed outrage at Whitmer's support, with one Michigan congresswoman describing the governor's stance as 'disgusting'. This sentiment runs counter to the perceived political wisdom that opposing such projects would be an easy way to secure votes in battleground states.
A recent Ipsos national poll highlights the extent of this internal party division, revealing that Democratic voters oppose data centres by a 17 percentage point margin compared to their Republican counterparts. Only 9% of Democrats surveyed expressed support for a data centre in their own community, in contrast to 21% of Republicans. This data suggests a significant disconnect between the party's leadership and its base on this particular issue, which is proving to be a potent mobiliser of public opinion.
The controversy is not confined to Michigan. In Wisconsin, another pivotal swing state, Democratic Governor Tony Evers' support for a Microsoft data centre complex in Racine county has sparked anger among voters. Despite Evers initially praising the facility as a 'modern marvel', Microsoft subsequently cancelled plans for another data centre in the same county following local pushback. This demonstrates the strength of community opposition and the potential for these projects to alienate voters, even leading to rare bipartisan agreement on the issue in states like Pennsylvania.
The growing public discontent has already led to concrete action in one state. New York recently became the first US state to enact a moratorium on new data centres, with Governor Kathy Hochul issuing an executive order for a one-year statewide pause on these large facilities. This move underscores the increasing political pressure on leaders to address environmental concerns and local community objections, setting a precedent that other states might consider as the debate intensifies ahead of the midterms.