The energy needs of the AI boom and the construction of massive data centers in states across the country have created a backlash from both Democratic and Republican voters. The battle against data centers is at the heart of a campaign in Tennessee: Democratic state Representative Justin J. Pearson is opposed to the Colossus data centers built by Elon Musk’s xAI in the Memphis area. Pearson is running against Republican state Senator Brent Taylor in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, which, after recent redistricting, includes parts of Memphis, as well as rural and suburban counties.
“Across the 15 counties that I’ve traveled, I’ve yet to meet anyone, including folks who are Republicans who are voting for us, who want data centers,” says Pearson. “Gas is high; groceries are high; healthcare costs are high; wages are low. Yet the billionaire class continues to profit off of our pain and pillage our communities and our pocketbooks.”
This content originally appeared on Democracy Now! and was authored by Democracy Now!.