Maine's fight over AI data centers becomes a flashpoint in the costly Senate race between Collins and Jackson

What happened

The rapid growth of data centers has become one of the most volatile issues in Maine's U.S. Senate race, The Verge reported, just days before voters head to the polls. During the final debate, an audience member interrupted Republican Sen. Susan Collins, shouting, "AI data centers are destroying our climate. They are poisoning our water."

According to The Verge, Collins brushed off the outburst and tied the man to her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson. The outlet reported that the race will help decide which party controls the Senate and will help shape federal data center and AI policy for the whole country.

How the data center fight grew in Maine

A vetoed statewide moratorium

In April, the Maine Legislature passed what would have been the nation's first statewide moratorium on large data centers, but Gov. Janet Mills vetoed it 10 days later, The Verge reported. Since then, towns across the state have adopted temporary moratoriums or put the question of data center expansion before voters this November.

Polling and cost concerns

A September poll of Mainers by UMass Lowell and YouGov found 76 percent of respondents oppose building a data center in their community, with 58 percent strongly opposed. Molly White, who runs the tracking site Tech Influence Watch, told The Verge that voters link data centers to rising utility costs. She noted many Mainers are already facing record-high heating oil costs this fall.

Why rural states draw developers

The Verge reported that rural states like Maine are becoming prime targets because they offer cheap land, vacant industrial mills and access to water from many rivers. Developers often promise long-term jobs, but economic research indicates most data centers create virtually no net employment after construction ends. Mark Brewer, who chairs the political science department at the University of Maine, said: "It's one thing to put up with a paper mill that's employing three shifts of 1,000 workers, right? Data centers aren't doing that." Similar concerns have surfaced in the Southwest, where Arizona data center projects have faced backlash over water use.

Money flowing into the race

Record spending

The Verge reported the contest is set to be the most expensive Senate race per capita in U.S. history, with Democrats projected to spend $81 million and Republicans $114 million. The Senate Leadership Fund put nearly $42 million into ads across Maine, and Elon Musk gave $158 million to that super PAC this summer. Pine Tree Results PAC, which has personal ties to Collins and her husband, put $29.1 million into the race to support her.

Collins' donors and household investments

According to White's donation tracker, Collins has received $325,644 from AI and crypto donors, and nearly 100 billionaires have donated to her reelection bid in some form. Forbes ranked Collins' household fifth in the Senate for AI- and data center-linked investments, with an estimated $300,000 to $800,000 held in her husband Thomas Daffron's name. Collins has said data centers should be evaluated individually, and she secured $6.2 million in federal funding for a high-performance computing hub in central Maine.

Where Jackson stands

Jackson's recently filed FEC paperwork shows no obvious data center, AI or Big Tech ties, though it lists at least four billionaire donors, The Verge reported. His stance is similar to Collins', with a focus on guardrails for AI and data center development. He has said he wants union jobs for building and maintaining data centers in Maine.

Attack ads and voter fatigue

A Maine Monitor report cited by The Verge found that, as of mid-October, $54 million had been spent or committed for negative attack ads, nearly all from outside PACs rather than the candidates' campaigns. With broadcast television time sold out, campaigns shifted money to radio, social media and direct mail. Brewer called it "the most negative race" he has tracked in 25 years of observing Maine politics. More coverage of campaigns is in our elections section.

What to watch next

• The outcome of the Maine Senate race, which The Verge reported will help determine Senate control and federal data center and AI policy.
• Local ballot questions on data center expansion that Maine towns are putting before voters this November.
• Temporary data center moratoriums adopted by towns across Maine.