Datacenter Politics: A New Era for Activism and Accountability

The recent wave of victories against datacenter construction has sent a clear message to developers, policymakers, and citizens alike: unchecked growth is coming to an end. For years, communities have been sounding the alarm on the environmental, social, and economic impacts of these massive facilities. The problem isn’t just the facilities themselves, but the way they’re being pushed through without regard for local concerns or democratic processes.

Steven Kung’s campaign in Monterey Park, California, exemplifies this new breed of civic engagement. As a datacenter activist turned city council candidate, he’s taking on the system that allowed the development to be built in the first place. His campaign imagery – a red dragon dismantling a facility with its tail – speaks to the power dynamics at play: ordinary people rising up against the behemoths that seek to dominate their lives.

This phenomenon is not limited to California; it’s a national trend gaining momentum over the past year. With over 50 candidates signed up and more expected to join, the Working Families Party has become a key player in harnessing populist anger against datacenters. These first-time candidates are driven by a sense of urgency and outrage, fueled by the realization that their communities are being sacrificed on the altar of corporate profit.

Datacenters have become a lightning rod for discontent among ordinary Americans. A Gallup poll revealed that seven out of ten people oppose construction near where they live. The issue is no longer just about jobs or economic growth – it’s about who gets to decide what happens in our communities and what kind of development we want to see.

In Arizona, cybersecurity professional Jackie McGuire became a household name after testifying against the Beale Infrastructure project. Her campaign for town council was sparked by community alarm over water usage, noise pollution, and transparency issues. Although she lost her bid for a majority on the town council, McGuire remains undeterred: as an elected official, she vows to continue pushing for voter approval of datacenter projects.

The stakes are high, and the anti-datacenter movement is not just about halting construction – it’s about rewriting the rules of development. In Oregon, educator Myrna Muñoz’s campaign against datacenters was a deciding factor in her primary election victory. Now, she’s part of a statewide effort to impose a three-year moratorium on new projects and regulate existing ones.

This is not just about politics; it’s about power. Datacenter companies are spending billions on software and datacenters – money that could be spent on education, healthcare, or infrastructure. Instead, they’re siphoning off resources from communities, perpetuating a cycle of corporate greed and exploitation.

The datacenter movement has mobilized everyday people from farmers to teachers to beauty salon workers who are irate about what’s going on in their communities. Candidates like Kung, McGuire, and Muñoz are banking on that same energy to bring voters to the polls. As Saul Levin notes, AI companies’ spending on software and datacenters is “taking away money from my children and grandchildren.”

The future of datacenter politics looks bright – or rather, like a revolution in the making. Will this new wave of activism translate into lasting change? Only time will tell. But one thing’s certain: the era of datacenter dominance is drawing to a close.