This week, we saw a historic blue wave roll across the country, as Democrats took back the House and Senate and won victories across the country, even reaching into Republican strongholds. 

This victory was an incredible show of people power. A dedicated movement — including Food & Water Action members — took to the streets and to the phones to support progressive champions and get out the vote. On one of the most pivotal issues in the election, data centers, this grassroots people power decisively defeated Big Tech’s hundred-million-dollar war chest. 

From coast to coast, candidates who took strong positions against data centers and Trump’s agenda came out on top. The election results are not only a complete repudiation of Trump and his allies, but a mandate for Democrats to take on a bold and progressive agenda. 

Here are the details and what comes next.

1. Democrats Flipped the House and Senate

Across the country, Food & Water Action knocked on more than 67,800 doors and called more than 135,000 voters. We focused on six crucial races in efforts to take back the House. Every single one of our House priority races flipped to the Democrats.

We ousted Republican Reps. Ryan Mackenzie in PA-7 and Mike Lawler in NY-17, helping to change the balance of power in the House and unseat two politicians who advanced Trump’s agenda and chose profits over people. 

Our endorsed House candidates won in Iowa and California — Christina Bohannan (IA-1), Lindsay James (IA-2), Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-3), and Randy Villegas (CA-22) — ensuring that we have four more progressive allies in the House who will defend our food, water, climate, and democracy. 

At the same time, Democrats took back the Senate. Food & Water Action endorsee Josh Turek (IA) flipped his seat, along with Democratic Senate candidates in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Maine, and Kansas, and even Texas. There, James Talarico became the first Democrat to win a Texas Senate seat in almost 40 years.

That this incredible wave happened despite Republicans’ underhanded gerrymandering efforts speaks to the strength of our allies and their platforms. People across the country from all walks of life are rejecting Republicans’ extreme agenda and supporting candidates that put people over profit. 

2. Voters Said: No More AI Data Centers

As resistance against AI data centers reaches new highs, many candidates made stopping them a key part of their platforms. 

That includes major Democratic victories, including Sherrod Brown for Ohio’s Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa for next Texas governor. Governor Greg Abbott’s long-time support for Big Tech came back to bite him, as even his last-minute backpedaling on data centers failed to convince Texas voters. 

Food & Water Action endorsee Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Senate seat calling for a halt to a new data center buildout. Candidates for governor supporting moratoria on data centers also won in Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, Ohio, New Mexico, Georgia, and New York.

Food & Water Action also supported a slate of six anti-data center House candidates, and five won their races — Will Lawrence (MI-7), Katy Padilla Stout (TX-23), Rebecca Cooke (WI-3), Randy Villegas (CA-22), and Jamie Ager (NC-11). We’ll work with these new members in Congress to push back on Big Tech’s destructive agenda. 

With anti-data center candidates winning from coast to coast, Democrats must listen to their base. They must move forward with a national moratorium on data centers.

3. Food & Water Action Made Big Waves for Clean Water in Iowa

For nearly a decade, Food & Water Action has been on the ground in Iowa advocating for clean water, accountability for Big Ag, and leaders who will take both issues head-on. We’ve elevated water pollution to a top issue in the state, as cancer incidences rise and Iowans experience growing mistrust of what comes out of their taps. 

On Tuesday, our work paid off. All three of our endorsed candidates for Iowa’s Congressional House and Senate seats won their races. At the state level, an incredible 20 of our 22 clean water candidates in the State legislature won their races. 

These wins will not only help us win crucial policy changes to benefit Iowans’ health. They’ll also have ripple effects across the country, sending a message that people are no longer willing to sacrifice our drinking water for the sake of Big Ag’s profits.

4. State and Local Change Will Make a Huge Difference

Along with the clean water sweep in Iowa, state and local wins will make a massive difference in defending our communities from polluting industries. 

In Pennsylvania, for example, key local races focused on the data center debate flipped control of the State Senate. This gives us a real chance to pass a much-needed pause on these polluting projects through the legislature.

Local communities took to the polls on Tuesday not only to elect leaders, but to reject data centers. Nationwide, more than 30 ballot measures to restrict data center development passed. 

5. We’re Poised to Defend Our Food, Water, and Climate!

This election made it clear that voters want leaders who represent our interests, not those of the AI industry, Big Ag, and corporate polluters. Now, the Democratic Party must heed this mandate and advance a bold agenda that puts people over profit.

With control of the House and Senate, Democrats also have the ability to hold Trump in check — as long as they don’t back down, and we keep up the pressure. 

To start, we’ll make sure Congress investigates Trump’s collusion with Big Tech and Big Oil, as well as the administration’s slashing of key clean water and clean air protections and approval of food mergers and pesticides. And we’ll continue pushing for policies that protect people and the environment — starting with an AI data center moratorium.