The data center political attacks are here As public sentiment on data centers continues to sour, both Democratic and Republican candidates are taking a more oppositional stance to them. • 3 min read TL;DR: There might be nothing more politically unpopular right now than being a data center cheerleader. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are taking note—and changing their stance—as the midterm elections approach, while AI companies are desperately trying to buy back some goodwill. What happened: In an interview this past Sunday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared that AI companies “dug their own grave” amid the data center backlash they’re facing—weeks after he ordered a moratorium on new data center power approvals in the state. It’s a big shift in tone from a governor who called Texas the “epicenter of AI development” last November. And he’s far from alone: An analysis from The Washington Post shows that American politicians have gotten a lot more negative about data centers since last year. Republican leaders have typically been more welcoming of them than their Democratic counterparts, but a few pro-data center elected officials have either lost their elections or faced recalls in recent months. Now, politicians from both parties are adjusting their stance and ramping up attack ads accusing opponents of being too data center-friendly. AI’s expensive charm offensive: AI firms, meanwhile, are probably feeling the walls closing in on them. In a private memo that leaked last week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee told AI companies to fix their PR problem, saying they had a “toxic brand.” Tech Brew breaks down the biggest tech news, emerging innovations, workplace tools, and cultural trends so you can understand what's new and why it matters. By subscribing, you accept our Terms & Privacy Policy. To be fair, the industry has been