The Story

Have data centres become a defining issue in the US midterms?

2026-11-02

Tomorrow, Americans head to the polls in the most expensive election in US political history: the 2026 midterms. Although Trump’s not on the ballot, the elections are seen as a referendum on his leadership, and alongside diesel prices and the war in Iran, there’s a new issue getting Americans nationwide to reconsider their vote: data centres. So why have data centres become such a hot button issue? What is resistance like on the ground? And how will this change how Americans vote tomorrow?

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Guests:

Susie Coen, US correspondent, The Times.Darrell West, senior fellow, The Brookings Institution.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Producer: Paige Reynolds.

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Read more: We refuse to have a data centre on our farm, even for $26m

Further listening: US midterms: Can the Democrats flip Texas?

Clips: CNN, AP, NBC, KENS 5, ABC news, CBS News Chicago, MLive, CBS News, Fox News, USA Today

Photo: Glenn Hartong for The Times.

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