--- title: "Data Centers Linked to GOP Vote Drop in Red Counties, Analysis Finds" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/data-centers-linked-to-gop-vote-drop-in-red-counties-analysis-finds" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/data-centers-linked-to-gop-vote-drop-in-red-counties-analysis-finds" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/data-centers-linked-to-gop-vote-drop-in-red-counties-analysis-finds.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/data-centers-linked-to-gop-vote-drop-in-red-counties-analysis-finds" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-11-10T09:25:11.005Z" source_reported: "2026-11-10T08:48:20.091Z" updated: "2026-11-10T09:25:11.005Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 30 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-11-10T09:00:50.071568+00:00" --- # Data Centers Linked to GOP Vote Drop in Red Counties, Analysis Finds *A conservative group's study suggests these projects may have driven voters away from Republicans in the 2026 midterms.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Includes named chairwoman Amy Kremer, specific figures from Humans First memo, and two independent outlets. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Provides reasons, quotes Kremer, separates facts, gives specific data and notes unknowns. - Hype 30 of 100, lower is better. Mildly emphatic headlines but body stays factual and measured. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Deep-red counties with data centers or proposed projects shifted 2.2 percentage points more toward Democrats in the 2026 midterms than comparable counties without them, according to Humans First. - Republican vote totals in these host counties fell by an additional 1.1% compared to non-host counties, while Democratic totals showed no significant change. - The analysis identified 114 proposed large data center projects across 92 deep-red counties. - Humans First cautioned that the findings show an association, not proof, that data centers caused voters to change their behavior. An analysis by the conservative group Humans First suggests that deep-red counties hosting large data centers or proposed projects saw a shift toward Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections. The study, which examined election returns and data center project records in 1,540 counties across 16 states, found that these host counties moved an additional 2.2 percentage points toward Democrats when compared with similar counties without such projects. This pattern was observed in 14 of the 16 states and in 25 of 27 governor and Senate races analyzed. When focusing specifically on deep-red counties, those President Donald Trump won by at least 20 points in 2024, the analysis identified a 2.1-point gap between counties with large data centers and comparable counties without them. For counties with projects still in the proposal stage, the gap was 1.1 percentage points after accounting for factors such as past voting patterns, rural or urban status, population size, racial and ethnic makeup, and recent voting trends. The analysis also found that Republican vote totals fell an additional 1.1% in deep-red host counties compared with comparable non-host counties, while Democratic vote totals remained largely unchanged. ## Disagreement on the cause Humans First cautioned that its findings indicate an association rather than definitive proof that data centers directly caused voters to alter their behavior. The group also noted that county-level results cannot distinguish whether Republicans switched their votes or simply abstained from voting. Amy Kremer, chairwoman of Humans First, stated that people engage politically when issues affect them personally, suggesting that data centers impact aspects like pocketbooks, health care, and community quality of life, which may have driven voters away from Republicans. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated reports below mention the Energy Department estimate that data centers could account for 11.8% of U.S. electricity by 2030, or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's directive to grid operators regarding cost safeguards. The centre-rated report included these details. No left-rated outlet ran this story at all. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 17% (1) - Right: 83% (5) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-11-10T09:00:50.071568+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-11-10T10:00:37.892Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated report from IntelliNews led with the finding that deep-red counties with data center projects shifted toward Democrats in the midterms. It detailed the analysis by Humans First, noting that these host counties moved an additional 2.2 percentage points toward Democrats compared to non-host counties. The report included that Republican vote totals fell an additional 1.1% in these counties, while Democratic totals showed no significant change. It also mentioned the identification of 114 proposed large data center projects across 92 deep-red counties. The report quoted Amy Kremer on the reasons for the shift, including concerns over personal impact and local control, and mentioned that voters favored restrictions on data center development in 46 of 47 local ballot measures in 2026. ### Right - The right-rated reports highlighted that data centers cost the GOP in deep-red counties during the 2026 midterms, citing the Humans First analysis. Next News Network's report quoted Amy Kremer stating that voters in GOP strongholds were punishing Republicans over the AI data center buildout and that 114 more proposed projects could fuel backlash. These reports detailed the 2.2 percentage point shift toward Democrats and the 1.1% drop in Republican vote totals. They also included commentary from Donald Trump, who argued on Truth Social that communities should embrace data centers for economic success and lower taxes. Compass Data Centers CEO Chris Crosby acknowledged that developers have not always addressed concerns well. Next News Network's own commentary suggested that voters receptive to an America First message on land, water, and local control are being asked to accept large-scale industrial projects, often with tax abatements and without local votes. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 5 - unknown: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Next News Network](https://nextnewsnetwork.com/2026/11/10/bombshell-data-centers-cost-gop-deep-red-counties-in-2026-midterms-new-analysis--mwaf6orl) — Data Centers Cost GOP Deep-Red Counties in 2026 Midterms, New Analysis Finds - [vz.ru](https://vz.ru/news/2026/11/10/1474409.html) — The Analysis Showed that the U.S. Red Districts Moved with Date Centers Towards the Democrats - [INTELLINEWS](https://intelli.news/2026/11/10/red-counties-with-data-center-projects-swung-away-from-gop-in-midterms-analysis-finds) — Red counties with data center projects swung away from GOP in midterms, analysis finds - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/red-counties-with-data-center-projects-swung-away-from-gop-in-midterms-analysis-finds) — Red counties with data center projects swung away from GOP in midterms, analysis finds - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/11/10/red-counties-with-data-center-projects-swung-away-from-gop-in-midterms-analysis-finds) — Red counties with data center projects swung away from GOP in midterms, analysis finds - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/politics/red-counties-data-center-projects-swung-away-gop-midterms-analysis-finds) — Red counties with data center projects swung away from GOP in midterms, analysis finds - [Tippahnews.com](https://tippahnews.com/national-news/analysis-deep-red-counties-with-data-centers-shifted-toward-democrats-in-2026-midterms) — Analysis: Deep‑red counties with data centers shifted toward Democrats in 2026 midterms ## Questions **What did the Humans First analysis find about data centers and voting patterns?** The analysis found that deep-red counties with large data centers or proposed projects shifted an additional 2.2 percentage points toward Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections compared to similar counties without these facilities. Republican vote totals in these host counties fell by an additional 1.1%. **Did the analysis prove that data centers caused voters to change their behavior?** No, Humans First cautioned that its findings show an association rather than proof that data centers directly caused voters to change their behavior. The group also noted that county-level results cannot determine if Republicans switched their votes or simply stayed home. **How many proposed data center projects were identified in the analysis?** The analysis identified 114 proposed large data center projects across 92 deep-red counties. These projects could potentially lead to further local opposition and political engagement on the issue. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/data-centers-linked-to-gop-vote-drop-in-red-counties-analysis-finds. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Data Centers Linked to GOP Vote Drop in Red Counties, Analysis Finds", https://mediabias.news/politics/data-centers-linked-to-gop-vote-drop-in-red-counties-analysis-finds