It’s been a big year for anti-data center activism in North Carolina. WFDD’s April Laissle has had a front-row seat, attending packed public meetings across the Piedmont and listening to hours of testimony from concerned residents. With Election Day imminent, she wanted to know: how is the debate carrying over to the midterms?
For this week’s Carolina Curious, we brought the question to Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper.
Interview Highlights
On the debate becoming a major campaign issue:
“I think we could have predicted that the economy would matter. We could have predicted that prices and affordability and all that would matter. Healthcare, sure, but I think the data centers issue is really the one new one that seems to be defining this election season.”
On politicians following the public's lead:
“It's very clear that candidates want to make known their stance on data centers, their stance that they are against data centers, or at least for more restrictions on data centers. So I think this is definitely a case where the leaders are following the people. Some folks in office, particularly some Republicans, might have seen this as economic development just six months ago, but now the way public opinion has changed, they are a bit on their heels.”
On the role the issue could play in future elections:
“I expect this cycle the data center issue is going to probably be the number one issue for some of these municipal off-year elections coming up in 2027. So after this election, don't feel like we're done with this issue for two more years."