New Facts: GOP officials break with Trump on data centers

Donald Trump used a Monday post to warn that communities that reject data centers will end up "backwards and poor." As he pressed that case, Republicans in high‑profile races are publicly backing moratoriums and stronger local control. Michigan Senate nominee Mike Rogers called for a one‑year statewide halt on new construction to study costs and protect local decision‑making.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, once a pitchman for AI investment, said the state has paused progress on some new proposals while it writes statewide standards and he faulted developers for poor outreach to residents. He has threatened a moratorium unless companies pay their full grid costs, moved to phase out tax incentives, and directed regulators to audit data center projects before more continue.

Ohio Senator Jon Husted argued operators should bear the costs of their energy needs and introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act to keep those expenses off utility customers. Michigan Representative Tom Barrett introduced two August bills to prevent federal overrides of local zoning on data centers and to bar members of Congress from signing nondisclosure agreements on deals.

Pennsylvania gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity called for a pause on development and insisted communities get a seat at the table before approvals. South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace opposed using eminent domain for data centers and backed a state pause. Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett answered Trump’s line with "I guess I’m backwards and poor" and urged more local control.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources