Resolution criteria

This market will resolve to YES if, at any point during their 2028 presidential campaign, an official U.S. presidential candidate makes a public, documented "anti-data center remark." Otherwise, the market will resolve to NO.

For the purposes of this market:

• "U.S. presidential candidate" is defined as any individual who has filed a Statement of Candidacy (Form 2) with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for the 2028 presidential election and meets at least one of the following criteria:

  1. Qualifies for at least one officially sanctioned primary debate (Democratic or Republican).

  2. Appears on the primary or general election ballot in at least five states.

  3. Is the nominee of a political party that received at least 1% of the national popular vote in either the 2024 or 2028 presidential election.

• "Anti-data center remark" is defined as an explicit verbal or written statement criticizing, opposing, calling to aggressively regulate, or expressing skepticism regarding the construction, expansion, water/energy consumption, or environmental and economic impacts of data centers (including AI-specific data centers). Eligible remarks include calling for data center moratoria, accusing data centers of unfairly driving up residential utility bills, or criticizing tax breaks and secrecy (such as NDAs) surrounding their development.

• Timing: The remark must be made after the candidate's official campaign launch and before the polls close on Election Day (November 7, 2028).

• Verification: The remark must be documented by a reputable, mainstream news organization (e.g., Politico, Axios, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters) or available via direct, verifiable audio, video, or official campaign press release.

Background

The massive energy and water demands of artificial intelligence data centers have rapidly transformed AI infrastructure into a significant political flashpoint in the United States. Amid rising utility bills and local environmental concerns, a bipartisan backlash has emerged, particularly in swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Several potential 2028 presidential contenders have already begun navigating the issue:

• In early 2026, California Representative Ro Khanna (D) introduced a proposed "Data Center Bill of Rights".

• In August 2026, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) signed an executive order targeting the potential electrical grid costs of data center projects.

• Other potential 2028 contenders, such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D), have faced local backlash from voters and environmental activists for supporting massive data center developments in their home states.

As the 2028 election cycle approaches, analysts expect the strain on local power grids and water supplies to remain a prominent national campaign issue.

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