Two Republican Figures Call for Pauses on Data Center Construction

In August 2026, two Republican political figures in separate states publicly called for pauses on data center construction, reflecting growing political attention to the issue. New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte said at a Rotary Club of Portsmouth event on August 20 that she now supports a moratorium on data centers in her state, marking a change from her prior position. Separately, former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee in a competitive Michigan Senate race, called for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in a statement issued the same week. Ayotte specifically cited energy constraints as her reasoning, stating that siting a data center in New Hampshire does not make sense given the state's current energy limitations. Her remarks represented a reversal from her earlier stance on data center development, according to New Hampshire Public Radio. Rogers, in his statement reported by The Hill, called for a yearlong pause on new data center construction, without the same level of detail provided on his specific rationale beyond the broader context of energy and political concerns tied to the AI boom. Both figures made their statements independently, in different states, without any indication of coordination between them. The Hill's reporting characterized Rogers' call as reflective of broader political sensitivity surrounding data centers linked to the artificial intelligence industry, though the full scope of that sensitivity was not detailed in the available reporting. It remains unresolved what specific policy mechanisms either Ayotte or Rogers would pursue to implement a moratorium, including whether either has introduced or plans to introduce formal legislation. It is also unclear what reaction, if any, these statements have drawn from data center industry representatives, other state or federal officials, or opposing candidates. The connection, if any, between the two statements and their timing within the same week was not addressed in the available reporting.