Missouri voters oust council member over $6 billion AI data center tax breaks
In a special election, 68.05% of voters in Independence, Missouri, recalled city council member John Perkins for supporting tax breaks exceeding $6 billion for a Nebius AI data center. Perkins was the third official to lose his seat over the vote, following two others who lost their re-election bids earlier this year. He had argued that a single policy disagreement should not overturn an election result from two years prior.
The recall election in Independence, Missouri, drew only 1,643 voters out of 14,250 registered in Jackson County, an 11.5% turnout, despite the decisive 68.05% margin against council member John Perkins. Perkins was one of five councilors who voted in favor of the Nebius AI data center tax incentives during a March City Council meeting, a decision that drew organized opposition from community groups like Stop the AI Data Center in Independence.
Perkins had defended his vote in an op-ed for The Kansas City Star, arguing that a single policy disagreement should not invalidate an election held two years prior. His ouster follows similar outcomes elsewhere in Missouri: Festus voters removed four of eight council members in April 2026 over a separate data center project, with recall petitions filed against the remaining four.
This recall could signal growing public resistance to large-scale tech infrastructure projects, particularly when local governments offer substantial tax incentives. Communities may become more skeptical of economic development promises tied to AI data centers, especially when benefits like jobs and tax revenue appear uncertain or delayed. Other municipalities facing similar proposals may see heightened civic engagement and more contentious public hearings, while tech companies could face increased difficulty securing favorable terms in smaller jurisdictions.