Public First Action

Data center backlash becomes a major 2026 election issue

Rapid data center construction and its infrastructure costs are sparking local opposition across the US and becoming a major issue in 2026 congressional and gubernatorial races. Tech money is flooding these contests: Leading the Future, a super PAC backed by Marc Andreessen and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, has spent $45 million in a year, while Anthropic-backed Public First Action is also involved.