Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, said Friday on CNBC that data center construction will proceed as planned despite voter opposition. He spoke after roughly 46 of 50 ballot measures in 2026 saw majorities vote to restrict data center development.
"We respect the localities that decide that's what they want to do," Hassett said. "But America is a big place, and right now, the data centers scheduled over the next couple of years aren't affected by these ballot initiatives."
Hassett expects data centers to expand in states with welcoming governors. He also suggested resistant states may eventually change course once they see the economic benefits.
He attributed Thursday's tech stock sell-off to "uncertainty about what the political change is going to mean for data centers going forward." He added that even if data center growth slowed, "you still have a blockbuster economy."
A CNBC Voter Poll found 56% of midterm voters named data centers as crucial or major, with 62% of those voters favoring the Democratic candidate.
President Trump posted on Truth Social Friday restating his support. "As President, I am 100% in favor of Super Intelligence (SI), and will work with the many States in the U.S. that want to become RICH by having them," he wrote.