Democrats, GOP Agree in New Poll on Major Issue Ahead of Midterms—AI
AI data centers are emerging as a rare issue that seemingly brings people together ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
A new poll reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is a rare issue uniting Americans across the political spectrum as the midterm elections approach. An NBC News Decision Desk poll found that 69% of Americans oppose building an AI data center in their community, with 45% strongly opposing the idea. Support for such a project is limited, with only 31% in favor.
When asked which party they trust more to make good policy decisions about AI, 20% said Democrats, 16% said Republicans, 44% said neither, and 15% were unsure. Demographic divides typically shaping American politics and policy showed little effect on concerns about AI, with Republicans, Democrats, men, women, college-educated and non-college-educated people, and city, suburban, small town, and rural residents all expressing similar discomfort.
Tech-savvy young Americans were just as concerned as older adults. Tech mogul Bill Gates warned that the public debate on AI has been too quiet and that stronger safeguards are necessary, pointing to potential risks such as cyberattacks, bioterrorism, and broader social consequences. However, he acknowledged that restricting data centers alone would not halt AI development.
The issue of data centers is tied to concerns about electricity, water, and land use, as well as the question of who should pay for the infrastructure. Some Republican officials, like Texas Governor Greg Abbott, have halted hundreds of data center projects, citing environmental and economic concerns. A majority of survey respondents, 81%, believe the government is not doing enough to regulate AI, with 19% believing the government is doing enough.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
