Opposition to AI data centers has become a national political fight roughly two months before the U.S. midterm elections, driven by concerns that surging electricity and water demand will raise household costs. Democratic governors and local officials have tightened rules, including New Jersey’s six-month water and power reporting mandate, Chicago’s temporary construction halt, Pennsylvania’s compliance standards and New York’s one-year suspension of large-scale projects; about 15 states are reviewing restrictions or bans. Polls show opposition rising sharply, including from 49% to 61% in a University of Pennsylvania Annenberg survey and from 42% to 63% in an Emerson College national poll, while recall efforts target officials who backed projects in more than ten cities. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halted data-center grid connection requests and launched an audit. Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized President Donald Trump’s support for expansion and argued families should not pay higher electricity bills for Big Tech’s AI growth. Trump has said communities rejecting data centers could remain "backwards and poor," while those accepting them could become "successful and rich" through lower taxes and more jobs, and has accused opponents of benefiting China. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang defended the buildout, saying it was restoring U.S. manufacturing, creating jobs and strengthening the power grid, while investor Kevin O’Leary called for developers to provide power, disclose water use and emissions, create high-paying jobs and explain local benefits. Mark Cuban warned that disappointing returns and efficiency gains could leave investors with losses and some facilities obsolete. The industry is countering through Build American AI’s planned campaigns in Kansas, Ohio and Wisconsin and a super PAC called Building the Future, reportedly backed by a $50 million campaign, while construction unions stress jobs and Republicans remain divided over local control, water use, grid strain and permitting.