“This is the new single-issue voter,” she said. “It’s not going to be abortion or LGBTQ or immigration issues. I think it’s going to be data centers, and I think that’s something both parties are going to have to reckon with.”
The politics of data centers
Spurred by a groundswell of fired up residents, the reckoning started at the DFL and GOP state conventions last month.
Two data center resolutions garnered broad support on DFL platform ballots. A moratorium drew 64% of the votes, while a more conciliatory (and palatable to labor unions) resolution focused on tighter regulations came in at 76%.
They look at the opinions of voters from different parties…
Although it’s Democrats who are most concerned about the environmental impacts of data centers, most Republicans also share that sentiment, an Ipsos poll found. Republicans oppose government restrictions on data centers more than Democrats do, but conservatives are quite split on the question.
Overall, the pollster concluded that…
“Partisan rifts on data centers come from unsurprising areas. Republicans have a stronger inclination for a more free-market approach, while Democrats are more cautious about environmental impacts. And while Republicans are slightly more optimistic about data centers, overall support for their construction remains low.”
Minnesota’s Republican convention wasn’t as focused on data centers as the DFL gathering. That said, platform committee members adopted a resolution calling for a data center pause.