Key facts
- Data centers have become a contentious issue in 2026 governor races due to utility bills and water supply concerns.
- 92% of Democratic and 87% of Republican gubernatorial nominees support data center moratoriums or new conditions.
- Democrats prioritize clean energy and union labor for data centers.
- Republicans focus on data centers generating their own power and protecting farmland.
- 44% of Democratic nominees back broad state AI rules, compared to 8% of Republicans.
Data centers have become a significant political issue in the 2026 governor races, with candidates across the US grappling with voter concerns over rising utility bills and water supply. A broad consensus has emerged, with a large majority of both Democratic and Republican nominees supporting either a moratorium or new conditions on data center development, a stance that contrasts with President Trump's push for more buildout.
While candidates largely agree that data centers should cover the costs of new energy infrastructure, their priorities diverge. Democrats tend to favor clean-energy requirements and union labor, while Republicans emphasize self-generation of power, farmland protection, and technological competitiveness. The debate over AI regulation also shows a partisan divide, with more Democrats advocating for broad state rules, while Republicans are more inclined to promote AI expansion with less regulation.
The question of which level of government should regulate AI remains unsettled. Although a federal bill initially sought to bar state AI laws, states continue to legislate, with over 1,500 AI bills introduced this year, leaving the next class of governors to navigate complex policy questions without a clear federal framework.