Midterms Could Delay the AI Buildout, Not Derail It
- Texas and Ohio governors-elect propose pausing or conditioning new data center approvals; Georgia tightens scrutiny
- Roughly 5 gigawatts of US projects slip from the 2028 pipeline into 2029; 2027 construction untouched
- Hyperscaler capex outlook unchanged at about $1.6 trillion next year and $1.8 trillion in 2028
- Powering AI team sees a 44-gigawatt US power shortfall through 2028, about 38% of projected demand
Morgan Stanley is telling clients the political backlash reshapes the spending timeline: capacity additions go flat in 2028 then grow nearly 40% in 2029. The squeeze lands on equipment suppliers facing weaker 2028 orders, while best-capitalized hyperscalers and owners of already-powered facilities gain pricing leverage.







