A recent poll conducted by PBS News, NPR, and Marist indicates that U.S. voters exhibit significant opposition to data centers, particularly when proposed for local communities. The survey reveals that 58% of voters believe the construction of new data centers by companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI will have a negative impact on the country. Additionally, 65% oppose the construction of data centers in their own communities, with 43% expressing strong opposition. Only 25% of voters support such construction.
The opposition transcends typical party lines, with more than 60% of voters in urban, suburban, and rural areas opposing local data center construction. Over 80% of Democrats are against it, while Republicans are nearly evenly divided, with 46% in favor and 44% opposed. However, a majority of self-identified MAGA supporters favor data centers in their communities, making them the only group showing support.
The strong opposition has resulted in significant consequences, with at least 75 data center projects, valued at approximately $130 billion, being blocked or delayed in the first quarter of 2026, according to Data Center Watch. The National Republican Senatorial Committee noted in an August memo that data centers have become a significant issue in the current election cycle, prompting candidates from both parties to address the topic in their campaigns.
Lawmakers are actively seeking solutions to the data center issue. Recently, the House passed bipartisan legislation requiring state energy regulators to consider mandating that data centers fund electrical upgrades in their communities.
Former President Donald Trump has publicly supported data centers, suggesting that communities opposing them may be "backwards and poor," and asserting that the anti-data center movement benefits China. This stance creates a dilemma for Republican candidates in districts where constituents are opposed to data centers.
Republican strategist Melik Abdul commented on Trump's position, stating that he is concerned that increased government oversight could disadvantage the U.S. compared to China. Democratic strategist Joel Payne noted that Trump is attempting to align his party with his views, but this effort has not been entirely successful. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, remarked that Trump's stance places him at odds with broader public concerns regarding artificial intelligence and data centers.
The poll conducted by PBS News, NPR, and Marist from September 14 to 15, 2026, surveyed 1,280 registered voters via phone, text, and online, with a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points. The margin of error for Democrats is 6.5 percentage points, for Republicans 6.8 percentage points, and for independents 7.2 percentage points.