WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 — A wave of voter backlash against local officials who backed data center projects is reshaping municipal politics across the country, with recall campaigns targeting mayors, council members, township trustees, and county commissioners who approved the developments, incentives, or zoning changes. The push reflects a broader surge in recall activity.
Ballotpedia, a nonprofit, nonpartisan online encyclopedia of American politics, identified multiple officials targeted in data-center-related recall efforts during the first six months of 2026, and reported that 329 officials were targeted across several states in that period — the highest midyear figure since Ballotpedia began tracking recalls in 2014. The disputes have centered on electricity and water consumption, noise, environmental effects, property values, tax incentives, and whether residents had enough opportunity to influence decisions.
Supporters of data center developments argue the projects can generate investment and tax revenue while strengthening America’s AI infrastructure. At least one official has already been removed directly through a recall election, another resigned, and several others are on course for recall votes in November. In Independence, Missouri, First District Councilman John Perkins was removed in a September 1 recall election after residents objected to his vote supporting incentives for a massive Nebius data center — a planned 2.1-million-square-foot campus in the city’s Little Blue Valley area.
Perkins had voted for an incentive package that included a 90 percent property tax abatement. Recall organizers argued he had not adequately consulted constituents before supporting the development.
The campaign collected the 1,000 signatures needed to force an election, and voters removed Perkins by a decisive margin — 68 percent supporting the recall and 32 percent opposing it. Perkins’ removal followed a separate electoral revolt in Festus, Missouri, where four incumbent council members were defeated in the regular April 7 election after supporting a proposed $6 billion data center on approximately 360 acres.
Opponents subsequently tried to recall Mayor Sam Richards and council members David Boyer, Kevin Dennis, and Michael Cook, but the effort failed to make it to a vote. The city attorney determined that although the petitions challenged officials’ support for the data center project, they did not allege unlawful conduct or other grounds required for a recall under Missouri law. Missouri permits recalls on grounds including misconduct, incompetence, or failure to perform legally prescribed duties, meaning political disagreement alone was insufficient.
Residents accused Festus officials of ignoring concerns about water consumption, electricity rates, and effects on nearby neighborhoods. In Yukon, Oklahoma, Mayor Brian Pillmore is scheduled to face voters on November 3 over his support for a contract to sell land near State Highway 66 and Frisco Road to Belt Line Energy for a data center.
Recall organizer Joe Horn said public opposition to an earlier proposed amphitheater was “the initial catalyst” for the campaign.
Horn told Newsweek, “When Pillmore finally dropped the amphitheater, he immediately moved to the Data Center project, along with a nondisclosure agreement signed in secrecy,” adding that “the Planning commission was misled in the process.” Horn also said residents living within 100 yards of the site believed “there will be an increase in noise beyond acceptable levels.” Horn expressed hope that “other cities around the nation will get involved like our community did when they were not being represented by their elected officials.”
