Voters rejected data centers in 2026 elections, exit polls show

Exit polls from the 2026 midterm elections show that large majorities of voters opposed the construction of data centers in their communities, a sentiment that benefited Democratic candidates. AI data centers were a significant factor for over half of voters, with opposition recorded nationally and across all Senate battlegrounds. Most voters opposing data centers backed Democrats, though a majority of Republicans also expressed resistance to new local data centers despite voting for GOP candidates. Voter views on data centers correlated with broader opinions on AI, with those seeing AI as harmful opposing them. Candidates like Sherrod Brown and Gina Hinojosa made data centers central to their campaigns, with opposition spanning urban, suburban, and rural areas.