Anti-data center measures are gaining momentum at the state and local levels, with the Maine legislature becoming the first in the nation to pass a bill banning the development of large-scale data centers. A Wisconsin city approved a referendum to give voters greater say over major tax-funded projects in response to a nearby data center campus. The backlash has grown due to concerns about the potential impacts of the energy-hungry infrastructure on electricity bills and environment. The data center buildout, initially supported by both sides of the aisle, initially received bipartisan support. However, the tide quickly turned against data centers in 2025, with $156 billion worth of data center projects being blocked or delayed due to local opposition, moratoriums and litigation. Three political candidates have been suspended for betting on their own races, with one settling and facing a $6,000 fine. A group of House Republicans introduced bills aimed at creating a national standard on data privacy and overriding existing state regulations on consumers’ and financial data.