Voters in the city of Festus, Missouri, removed four incumbent council members in a municipal election held days after the council approved a development agreement for a $6 billion data center project, reshaping half of the eight-member governing body.

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The vote followed the council’s March 30 approval of a plan to

build a hyperscale data center on approximately 360 acres of wooded land on the city’s southwest side. The election drew high turnout and reflected voter dissatisfaction with the approval process.

The outcome also comes amid a broader national backlash in some communities toward large-scale data center developments, Newsweek reported. “It’s really the way the deal was handled that led to this kind of uprising,” Rick Belleville, who beat Ward 4 incumbent Jim Tinnin, told Politico.

Advertisement Robert “Bob” Clark, executive chairman of Clayco, the parent company of developer CRG, said in a statement to Newsweek that he understands the newly elected council members have concerns about the project plans.

“We are fully committed, on behalf of everyone at CRG, to working closely with them,” Clark said. “We will ensure that everyone understands both the progress we’ve made so far, and the steps still needed to bring the project to completion. We will work together diligently and respectfully. We will carefully listen to all questions and concerns and work hard to find solutions together.”

Advertisement Opponents of large-scale data centers say they are concerns they will lead to increased electricity, land, and water prices for all consumers in the area. But supporters say the centers provide good-paying jobs and are vital as AI and other techologies necessary for the future are rapidly expanding.

All four incumbents on the ballot in Festus—Jim Collier, Brian Wehner, Bobby Benz, and Jim Tinnin—were defeated, according to reporting by St. Louis Public Radio. The winning candidates—Karl Weekley, Allen Joseph McCarthy, Dan Moore, and Rick Belleville—campaigned on promises of increased transparency and opposition to the proposed project.

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The City Council had voted March 30 to approve a development agreement with CRG, a subsidiary of Clayco, for a data center planned on approximately 360 acres. The prospective operator of the facility has not been publicly identified, Newsweek reported.

Opponents of the project filed a lawsuit last week seeking to invalidate

the rezoning decisions and development agreement. The suit alleges unlawful “spot zoning,” violations of the state’s open records law, insufficient public notice for key meetings, and undisclosed communications between city officials and the developer. The city attorney has disputed those claims, stating that Festus followed all required legal procedures.

An opposition group, Wake Up JeffCo, began collecting signatures for a recall effort targeting the mayor and remaining council members in Festus following the vote, aiming to replace them with officials who would terminate the development agreement, according to reporting by Politico.

Campaign finance records show that a political action committee backed by labor unions supportive of data center projects spent nearly $40,000 late in the race on advertising and campaign materials in support of the incumbents, who were ultimately defeated.

Documents obtained by residents through public records requests, including emails and text messages, indicated that political support for the project extended to Mike Kehoe, who was described in local reports as being willing to advocate for the development. The communications also included remarks by unidentified city officials that were critical of project opponents, Newsweek said.

“The City of Festus took all steps required by law to enact regulations applicable to data centers, to annex property, to rezone property to I-1, and to approve a development agreement,” City Attorney Brian Malone told St. Louis news station KSDK.

Clark told Newsweek his company worked in good faith with the city and valued the local residents.

“All communications were conducted through appropriate and customary channels, consistent with applicable laws and regulations. We will pursue the case through the proper legal process and look forward to a successful outcome,” Clark said.

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