Data centers are emerging as a political liability in key U.S. Senate and governor races as voters push back against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. A Fox News poll released in late July found that 70 percent of voters oppose building a data center in their area to support AI, while 78 percent favor slowing construction to address environmental and community concerns. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) ordered developers to cover project-related electricity costs and secure local approval, while Michigan Republican Senate candidate former Rep. Mike Rogers backed a one-year state moratorium on new facilities. In Ohio, former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is attacking incumbent Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) over his data center record, prompting concern within the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The industry says it needs to improve public messaging, while President Trump continues to support data centers despite backing a non-binding policy requiring them to pay their own way.