Fox News Poll Shows 71% Oppose Local AI Data Centers as Issue Reshapes 2026 Midterms
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 22
Fox News Poll Shows 71% Oppose Local AI Data Centers as Issue Reshapes 2026 Midterms
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 22
Summary
71% of voters oppose building AI data centers in their own communities, while 52% support putting them in remote locations, underscoring a broad Not In My Backyard split in Fox News’ Sept. 11-14 survey.
About 30-point swings drive that resistance: support drops sharply when voters hear data centers could strain water supplies, raise energy bills or grow enormous, but rises when tied to daily online use, infrastructure and competing with China.
60% view AI overall unfavorably versus 37% favorably, and majorities say it is bad for jobs, the environment, society, mental health and the economy; only day-to-day life gets a narrow positive reading at 47% to 43%.
The politics cut with those views: Democrats lead the generic ballot by 7 points overall, run at least 19 points ahead among voters opposing data centers, and hold a 14-point edge on which party would better handle building them.