Political fights over data centers
The gist
Campaigns have spent $45 million this year on ads mentioning data centers, most of them opposed.
Local zoning fights now shape Senate and governor races across several states.
How it unfolded
- 2023A developer proposed a data center on a nearby farm in central Ohio; the community fought it off.
- Dec 2025Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed one of the most stringent data center policies in the country.
- May 2026DeSantis signed SB 484 into law.