Opposition to data centers has become a prominent campaign issue in Florida and Texas, where Democratic candidates are seeking support from voters concerned about utility bills, the environment and public health. In Florida, State Rep. Angie Nixon, the progressive Democratic nominee for Senate, addressed residents of Fort Meade, a rural city of about 5,000 in a Republican-leaning county, over a nearby proposal, while former Rep. David Jolly, the Democratic nominee for governor, promoted a social media campaign after visiting Virginia's "Data Center Alley." In Texas, the backlash is shaping the 2026 governor's race between incumbent Republican Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa, as well as the Senate contest between GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico. A Texas Politics Project poll conducted in August found that 57% of Texas voters opposed having a data center in their community, including 43% of Republicans, 54% of independents and 60% of rural voters.