Voters mostly don’t like AI and data centers, but neither party seems to have an edge

<figure> <img alt="Graphic image of a data center." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/STKS528_DATA_CENTERS2_B.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Poll data released Tuesday <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/us/politics/ai-polls-midterms.html">by the <em>New York Times</em> and Siena University</a> confirms what we've <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/916210/ai-midterm-elections-data-centers-jobs">already been seeing</a>, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/983677/now-politicians-say-they-are-against-data-centers">what politicians are responding to</a> - AI and data centers are incredibly unpopular. Asked if they support or oppose the construction of data centers to power AI tech, 61 percent of the 1,503 likely voters surveyed in early September (ahead of the recent <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/995186/is-big-techs-ai-slowdown-a-safety-pact-or-a-cartel">AI safety slowdown discussion</a>) said they were opposed, with only 14 percent saying they strongly support. The split was about even among 2024 Donald Trump voters, at 49 percent support to 45 percent oppose, while people who had voted for Kamala Harris or who didn't vote leaned opp …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/995917/data-center-nyt-midterm-poll-september">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>