YORK COUNTY, S.C. — South Carolina’s historic U.S. Senate race is over, but the debate on data centers is far from settled.
The issue divided candidates Dr. Annie Andrews and Darline Graham in the midterm election, and for some voters, their stances hit close to home.
For Preston Stegall, this election was about more than the names on the ballot. He’s a creative professional worried about what artificial intelligence could mean for his work.
“I’m a creative, so like, I’m avidly opposed to AI and data centers,” he told Channel 9’s Lauren Crawford.
It’s a concern that drove him to the polls in Rock Hill on Tuesday. Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews defeated Republican Darline Graham after making local control of data center development a key part of her campaign.
“If a community says no, the answer is no,” Andrews said.
Now, it’s a campaign promise that faces its first test — turning words into action.
“I’ve called for a two-year moratorium on data center development so that we can empower our local communities and local elected officials to negotiate with these very wealthy, powerful corporations,” she added.
Graham, on the other hand, supported expanding data center development. She argued the industry is important to America’s technological competitiveness.
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In Chester County, leaders have weighed a shorter, six-month pause while pointing to millions in potential tax revenue. For voters like Stegall, the question now is whether their concerns will be heard after Election Day.
“I don’t typically vote, but I felt it was important this time that we have a change,” York County resident Preston Stegall said.
Dr. Annie Andrews’ victory doesn’t mean projects in south Carolina will be placed on hold. Any statewide pause would still require action beyond the newly elected senator.
In addition to Chester County’s six-month pause on data centers, York County is currently under a nine-month moratorium that expires in April. Data center development is paused for 180 days in Statesville. Meanwhile, Charlotte, Mooresville, Waxhaw, Kings Mountain and Rowan County all have one-year moratoriums.