AI and data centers are incredibly unpopular in every poll — SkimNews
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- NYT/Siena poll of 1,503 likely voters found 61% opposed AI data center construction and only 14% strongly supportive, with the survey conducted in early September before recent AI safety discussions
- 2024 Trump voters split nearly evenly at 49% support to 45% oppose, while Harris voters opposed 74% and non-voters 67%, leaving neither party a clear edge on the issue
- Opposed voters preferred limits over outright bans, 56% to 38%, citing environment and water usage (32%), local community impact (21%), general AI distrust (18%), regulation (10%), and the economy (9%)
- Gallup's May poll found seven in ten Americans opposed local AI data center construction, while an NBC News March poll ranked AI lower than ICE in public favorability
- AI and data centers registered below 1% as a midterm voting priority across most demographics, peaking at 3% among 18-29-year-olds, well behind economy, foreign policy, and inflation
- Party trust on handling the issue was nearly tied: 40% favored Democrats, 42% Republicans, and 18% didn't know or refused to answer
Why it matters: With 61% opposition but fewer than 1% citing it as a top midterm priority, AI data centers sit in a political no-man's-land: broadly unpopular enough that politicians feel the pressure, but low-salience enough that neither party gains a clear advantage — and the narrow 42%-40% GOP lead on trust means Democrats have little room to weaponize the issue.
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