Introduction

A new national poll reveals that a strong majority of voters oppose expanding AI data centers, with resistance cutting across party lines and ideological divides. The findings highlight growing public unease as AI infrastructure rapidly expands.

What Happened

According to a New York Times and Siena University survey of 1,503 likely voters conducted in early September 2026, 61 percent opposed the construction of new AI data centers, while only 14 percent strongly supported the effort. The data shows a partisan split: among 2024 Donald Trump voters, the race was nearly even at 49 percent support to 45 percent oppose, while voters who backed Vice President Kamala Harris or skipped the ballot altogether leaned opposed, at 74 percent and 67 percent, respectively.

Among those opposed, 56 percent favored imposing limits on new data center construction, and 38 percent called for a total ban. The most commonly cited reasons included environmental concerns and water usage 32 percent, impact on local communities 21 percent, and general distrust or dislike of AI 18 percent, followed by regulation concerns 10 percent and economic worries 9 percent.

Additional polling cited in the report found that an NBC News March survey showed AI polling lower than infrastructure spending, and a Gallup May poll revealed seven in ten Americans opposed local construction of AI data centers.

Why This Matters

Despite the high opposition numbers, the same poll indicates that AI and data centers rank far down the list of voter priorities. Across most demographic groups, the topic registered below one percent when voters were asked what mattered most in deciding their midterm vote. Younger voters aged 18 to 29 were the only segment where the issue broke into double digits, at just 3 percent. Voters still overwhelmingly trusted their own party to handle the topic, with overall results showing 40 percent favoring Democrats, 42 percent favoring Republicans, and 18 percent undecided or refusing.

The results suggest that while voter resistance to AI data centers is real and widespread, it has not yet translated into a decisive electoral flashpoint, at least not in the way some analysts anticipated.

Key Takeaways

  • 61 percent of likely voters oppose new AI data center construction, with opposition spanning both major parties.
  • Only 14 percent strongly support the expansion, while 56 percent of opponents prefer limits and 38 percent want a complete ban.
  • The top reasons for resistance are environmental impact, water usage, and concern over how data centers affect local communities.
  • AI and data centers rank as a low-priority issue for most voters, particularly outside the 18-to-29 age group.
  • Party loyalty still drives trust on the topic, with voters largely aligning with their preferred party's stance.

Conclusion

The latest polling makes it clear that public resistance to AI data centers is broad and bipartisan, but the issue has not yet broken through as a top-tier voter concern. As AI infrastructure continues to grow, the gap between public sentiment and political or industry momentum will be worth watching, particularly as election cycles heat up and the environmental and community impacts of these facilities become more tangible.