Voters in states including Texas, Ohio and Georgia elected Democratic candidates in Tuesday’s election, while referendums in several states reportedly favored halting or opposing new data centers. The results were presented as a potential obstacle for technology companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI, amid growing concerns about data centers’ electricity and water use and their effects on the environment and the economy. Technology shares also declined after the election.

Economists said projects planned for 2027 are unlikely to be quickly canceled because construction has often begun and permits have been granted, but obtaining approval for projects from 2028 could become more difficult. Companies may try to influence public opinion, seek federal rules for data-center decisions or move to more supportive US states; other possible destinations mentioned were the Middle East, while large-scale relocation to Europe was considered unlikely. The account also said that resistance to data-center expansion exists among some Republicans as well as Democrats, even though both parties support maintaining the United States’ lead over China in technology.