# US election results put data center projects at risk

> Voters backed 38 of 44 ballot measures seeking data center restrictions, while new governors in key states have pledged tougher rules or project delays.

Oossa · 2026-11-04 · https://oossa.com/en/us-election-results-put-data-center-projects-at-risk

Voters approved 38 of 44 measures seeking to restrict data centers across 10 states, according to Redbud Consulting. Many measures call for bans or pauses, though analysts say they are unlikely to affect projects already under construction or approved through 2027.

Democratic governors-elect in Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Ohio add uncertainty for developers. Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has said she will delay projects until lawmakers address their effects on water, power, air and property rights. Industry group Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich argued the results show an anti-Trump wave, not a voter mandate against tech.

## The facts

- 38 of 44 data center restriction measures passed, according to Redbud Consulting.
- Hinojosa said she plans to delay Texas projects pending legislation on community impacts.

## Why it matters

For data center developers, the election results could mean more permitting delays and costs; how long any pauses will last remains unclear.

## Sources & references

1. [Big Tech claims voters’ AI backlash is “anti-Trump” not “anti-tech”](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/11/big-tech-claims-voters-ai-backlash-is-anti-trump-not-anti-tech/) – Ars Technica, 2026-11-04
2. [Voters rejected AI data centers over resource concerns. Here's why measuring water usage is hard](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/05/meta-spacex-ai-data-centers-use-millions-of-gallons-of-water-a-day.html) – CNBC, 2026-11-05
3. [The Download: Texas’s fragile AI boom and energy policy shifts](https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/11/05/1144908/the-download-texas-fragile-ai-boom-us-energy-policy/) – MIT Technology Review, 2026-11-05
4. [‘Total repudiation’: The blue wave is about to hit AI](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1026927/total-repudiation-the-blue-wave-is-about-to-hit-ai) – The Verge, 2026-11-05

Last updated: 2026-11-05