As the 2026 midterm season heats up, a fresh Fox News national poll reveals a stark “not in my backyard” attitude toward artificial‑intelligence infrastructure. Seventy‑one percent of the 1,211 registered voters surveyed oppose constructing AI data centers in their own communities, with 46% saying they strongly oppose such projects. Those numbers have nudged upward since the summer, indicating a growing wariness of the local impact of AI‑related facilities.
Remote sites find more favor
Despite the strong local resistance, a slim majority—52%—supports locating AI data centers in remote areas, while 44% remain opposed. The contrast is especially pronounced across community types. About seven‑in‑ten urban, suburban and rural voters say they would not want a data center nearby. Yet half of urban respondents and 57% of suburban voters would back a remote facility, and 51% of rural voters still oppose it.
Who is most opposed?
The poll identifies clear demographic patterns. Women, White voters without a college degree, and Democrats are more likely than men, non‑White voters, college graduates and Republicans to oppose data centers, whether near home or elsewhere. Among those who oppose, concerns focus on potential strain on local water supplies (down 28 points when mentioned), higher energy bills (down 29 points) and the sheer size of the facilities (down 29 points).
Potential benefits shift opinions
When respondents learn that AI data centers could support everyday activities—such as streaming, online banking, and essential infrastructure like transportation and water systems—support rises modestly. Highlighting a competitive edge over China adds an 18‑point boost in favorability.
Overall AI sentiment remains negative
Beyond data‑center placement, the poll gauges broader attitudes toward AI. Majorities view AI as detrimental to the U.S. economy (54% bad vs. 36% good), mental health (54% vs. 34%), society (56% vs. 34%), the environment (60% vs. 30%) and jobs (63% vs. 29%). The only area where AI is seen more positively is day‑to‑day life, with a narrow 47%‑43% split favoring benefits.
Overall, AI technology is viewed 23 points more unfavorably than favorably (37% favorable, 60% unfavorable), a gap that has widened from an 11‑point deficit in April and a 9‑point deficit in July.
Political implications
On the generic congressional ballot, the Democratic candidate leads the Republican by seven points overall. However, among voters who support local data‑center construction, Republicans enjoy a 21‑point advantage, narrowing to nine points among those who only back remote sites. Voters with favorable AI views back the Republican candidate by seven points, while those with unfavorable views favor the Democrat by 17 points.
Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who co‑conducted the survey, warned that “technology is no longer just a tool; it’s a wedge issue” that campaigns will likely exploit as they map tech anxiety onto voter coalitions.
Education and privacy concerns
Three‑quarters of respondents (76%) favor banning AI use in kindergarten through eighth‑grade classrooms, with mothers showing the strongest support at 81%. Similarly, 72% back prohibiting cell phones in K‑12 classrooms. A majority (57%) also support restricting police use of automated license‑plate readers, though opinions split sharply by age: voters under 30 favor the ban by 28 points, while those 65 and older support it by 7 points.
The poll was conducted September 11‑14, 2026 by Beacon Research (Democratic‑leaning) and Shaw & Company Research (Republican‑leaning). Interviews were carried out with live interviewers on landlines (96 respondents) and cell phones (821), plus an online text‑based option (294). The full sample carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points; subgroup margins are higher. Weights were applied to age, race, education and area to reflect the registered‑voter population.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
