Joe Phillips, a first-time candidate who ran on a platform of greater transparency and opposition to the project, defeated Selby by a wide margin. Phillips said he was caring for his toddler grandson when the results came in.

The recall petition, filed earlier this year, accused Selby of failing to adequately inform residents about the data center proposal and of fast-tracking negotiations without public input. Organizers gathered enough signatures to force the election under Yukon's charter.

The vote in Yukon is part of a broader pattern. In Enid and Okmulgee, similar grassroots campaigns have unseated or pressured local officials who backed data center developments, as residents raise concerns about water consumption, electricity costs, noise, and the loss of open land.

Data centers, which house the servers that power cloud computing and artificial intelligence, have proliferated across the country in recent years. While they can bring tax revenue and construction jobs, they also require massive amounts of water and electricity, and often benefit from tax incentives that critics say outweigh the local benefits.

"This is about the community having a say in its own future," Phillips said in a brief interview. "People felt like decisions were being made behind closed doors, and they wanted to be heard."

Selby, who was elected in 2023, could not be reached for comment. In previous statements, she defended the project as an economic opportunity for Yukon and said the city followed proper procedures.

The recall is nonpartisan, but it reflects a growing skepticism of corporate power and backroom deals that has animated local politics across the country. In Oklahoma, where water rights and land use are increasingly contentious, the data center debate has become a flashpoint.

Yukon resident Maria Gonzalez, who signed the recall petition, said she was concerned about the strain on the city's water supply. "We're in a drought half the time," she said. "How can we promise millions of gallons to a data center when our own wells are running low?"

The city council will now need to appoint an interim mayor or schedule a special election to fill the remainder of Selby's term, which runs through 2027. Phillips said he intends to run in that election.

The outcome in Yukon is likely to be watched by other communities facing similar proposals. As data center construction accelerates, local officials may find themselves caught between promises of economic development and residents demanding a seat at the table.

"This isn't just about Yukon," Phillips said. "It's about every town that's been told to take a deal or leave it. People are waking up."