New Hampshire Election Candidates Split on Data Center Moratoriums
Gubernatorial and congressional contenders in the state offer varying timelines and legislative mechanisms for halting new artificial intelligence infrastructure.
By David Marshall ·
New Hampshire voters face a November election where artificial intelligence infrastructure is a central campaign issue. A University of New Hampshire poll released in June found that more than two-thirds of residents would oppose an AI data center in their specific town. Additionally, 45% of surveyed residents supported halting the construction of new data centers statewide. The candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and two U.S. House seats have outlined distinct approaches to this growing concern.
Governor Kelly Ayotte, the Republican incumbent, plans to include a temporary moratorium in her state budget proposal for 2027. She stated that the state's energy infrastructure cannot support large data centers without increasing costs for ratepayers. Ayotte told NHPR that she does not want energy costs to rise. The budget proposal will be introduced in February and requires legislative approval. Because the state budget takes effect on July 1, a moratorium enacted through this method would not begin until next summer.
Candidate Cinde Warmington, the Democrat, advocates for an immediate executive order to impose the pause. She criticized Ayotte for not acting sooner during the legislative session earlier this year. Warmington said she wants the moratorium now and argued that waiting for the budget process would allow new data centers to be built in the interim. Ayotte countered at an October 22 forum that a governor is not legally permitted to issue such a moratorium via executive order, a position she said was confirmed by the state attorney general.
In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Chris Pappas and Republican John Sununu both support a state-level pause on construction. Pappas has called for federal guardrails to regulate big tech and a federal approval process for new AI models. He also signed a bipartisan letter on October 14 expressing concern that Meta is using a federal tax credit to fund data center construction. Sununu has focused on AI safety and security, specifically advocating for protections for children, seniors, and national security interests.
Representative Stefany Shaheen, running for the open U.S. House seat, supports a statewide moratorium. Her opponent, Republican Anthony DiLorenzo, prefers local control over data center decisions. DiLorenzo said during an October 19 debate that local municipalities should be able to support data centers to gain economic prosperity. Both candidates support federal regulation of AI, though DiLorenzo proposed a public-private partnership to craft rules while Shaheen called for a regulatory roadmap that gives states control to protect local economies.
In the second U.S. House district, Democratic incumbent Maggie Goodlander is the only major Democratic candidate who does not endorse a statewide moratorium. Her campaign stated she supports stricter oversight and requires local community approval for new facilities. She also wants data centers to cover all associated costs. Republican Lily Tang Williams also opposes a statewide ban, emphasizing that local communities should make the decision. Williams said her district is not currently in a position to host medium or large data centers.
State legislative leaders are preparing for the 2027 session regarding these issues. Democratic efforts to restrict data centers failed earlier this year, but state Republican leaders have shifted their stance to support a statewide moratorium. Legislators are expected to draft several bills related to data centers and AI regulation for the upcoming session.
