Data centers fuel $173 million midterm ad war
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Stock: Getty Images
The fight over data centers is national, but midterm ad spending shows the political backlash is concentrated in particular states and regions — especially the Rust Belt.
Why it matters: AI and data centers are set to become even more front-and-center in 2028. The geography of today's backlash could help shape the battlegrounds of the next presidential election.
By the numbers: Campaigns and outside groups have spent $173 million on almost entirely negative ads about data centers during this year's general election, according to AdImpact.
- Democrats dropped $140 million versus Republicans' $28 million, with independents spending $5 million.
- When Axios asked AdImpact if it could identify any commercials that made an overtly positive case for data centers, the ad-tracking firm said it could not.
Over half of the total spending — about $95 million — is in four Rust Belt states: Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
- The latter three have been key swing states in recent presidential elections, while Ohio has a competitive Senate race this year.
Over $11 million of data center ads have been aired in Texas — the 5th-most in the country.
- The state has the largest number of planned data centers in the country, according to market intelligence company Cleanview.
The big picture: Democrats are increasingly hostile to data centers and AI, while Republicans are divided.
- Many Republicans, including President Trump, argue that the technology and the centers will bring jobs. They say it's crucial that the U.S. advance faster than China.
- Others like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott are calling for data center restrictions.
Zoom in: In Ohio, Democrats have spent nearly $28 million on data center ads. Republicans have spent zero.
- Ohio has the fourth-and fifth-highest number of operating and planned data centers (80 and 140, respectively) in the nation, per Cleanview.
- By contrast, Pennsylvania has a small number of data centers currently in operation (16) but the third-highest number planned (273), after Texas and Virginia.
- Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro declared in 2025 that the state was "all in on AI" but then began calling for new guardrails earlier this year.
The data center wars have even dominated some local races.
- Over $4 million has been spent on ads in a little-noticed state legislative race in the Philadelphia suburbs — rivaling the total in some of the nation's top gubernatorial and Senate contests.
- Democrats and Republicans have spent about the same on the ads in this race.
- Residents in the region's Montgomery County — where Shapiro happens to live — have rebelled against a planned cluster of data centers.
