Data Centers Become Unexpected Battleground as Candidates Court Anti-AI Infrastructure Vote in 2026 Midterms

Opposition to artificial intelligence data centers has emerged as a rare bipartisan political flashpoint in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, with candidates across both parties capitalizing on widespread voter anxiety over environmental and economic impacts. According to a May 2026 Gallup poll, 70% of Americans oppose building data centers near their homes, a higher opposition rate than nuclear power plants receive. A University of Pennsylvania survey found that 61% of adults oppose data center construction in their communities—a 12-percentage-point jump over just four months—underscoring the intensity of public concern.