A Gallup poll released on May 13, 2026 found that 71% of Americans oppose the construction of an AI data center in their community. That is not a fringe position. It cuts across party lines, though Democrats oppose local projects at a higher rate (75%) than Republicans (roughly 63%).
The numbers behind the backlash
The scale of the AI infrastructure push makes the political friction easier to understand. The buildout, backed by companies including OpenAI, Oracle, Amazon, and Microsoft, carries a price tag of roughly $600 billion.
In just the first three months of 2026, local opposition managed to block or delay more than 75 data center projects worth an estimated $130 billion combined.
A POLITICO analysis found that more than 200 data centers are currently under construction in competitive House districts, which means the issue is landing directly in the laps of candidates who have to win those districts.
