The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that public opposition to data centres may jolt the AI trade as the U.S. midterm elections approach, with a strong Democratic showing potentially hampering the build-out that has lifted stocks. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says artificial intelligence has driven the U.S. stock bull market that just marked its fourth anniversary, as companies such as Alphabet and Amazon pour money into building data centres. AI's importance to the market makes investors highly sensitive to obstacles that could slow the development pace, with spending on data centres and other AI infrastructure expected to top $1-trillion (U.S.) next year. Public backlash is one of those obstacles. As the massive data centres proliferate, many Americans are concerned about the strain on the environment and impact on energy costs, as well as about the technology itself. Democratic victories in both chambers in the Nov. 3 elections, which would wrest control of Congress from the Republican Party, pose the greatest AI-related threats of the potential midterm outcomes. A Democratic sweep of the Senate and House is the most likely outcome, according to trading on prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket.