Midterm elections 2026: all the news
Tech issues like data centers, AI, and billionaire taxes are shaping the 2026 midterms and could influence the 2028 presidential race.Summary
The 2026 midterm elections will determine President Donald Trump’s power in his final two years and signal voter priorities ahead of 2028. While affordability dominates, tech-related issues such as data center opposition, AI safety, surveillance expansion, and billionaire wealth taxes are prominent. California’s Proposition 45 could fast-track infrastructure but may benefit data center developers; Proposition 40 would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax, prompting tech billionaires to donate over $340 million against it. Data center backlash is uniting voters across the country and becoming a major campaign issue, with tech money pouring into races. OpenAI launched an election operations center to combat misinformation. Elon Musk has donated over $276 million to Republican midterm efforts. Democrats are eyeing AI scrutiny if they win Congress, and experts warn of data security risks from DHS’s SAVE program. Republican anti-Indian racism is costing votes, and Trump awarded a right-wing YouTuber for a fraud video. Overall, AI backlash is rising but campaigns are not yet prioritizing it.
(Source：The Verge)