Data centers faced broad voter resistance in 2026 elections, CBS News exit polls show

Data centers emerged as one of the clear losers of the 2026 elections, with CBS News exit polls finding that large majorities of voters nationally and in every state surveyed opposed having one of the facilities built in their community.

Artificial intelligence was a major factor for more than half of voters in the election. While it was not the most crucial issue on the ballot, voters made their opinions on data centers unmistakable.

That resistance appeared to benefit Democratic candidates, since most voters who opposed data centers backed Democrats. But the sentiment cut across party lines. Most self-identified Republicans also said they did not want a new data center in their area, even as they predominantly voted for Republican candidates.

Views about the sprawling computing facilities were closely connected to how voters feel about AI more broadly. Those who believe AI is doing more harm than good, a group that includes most voters, opposed data centers in their communities. Voters who think the technology will help society were more open to having one nearby.

Several winning candidates made the issue a centerpiece of their campaigns. Democratic Sen.-elect Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa in Texas were among those who put data centers front and center as they made their case to voters.

In the states where exit polls examined the question, opposition to new data centers was remarkably uniform. Majorities in urban, suburban and rural areas alike said they were against new construction, suggesting the backlash is not confined to any single type of community.

The election results are consistent with earlier signs of public wariness. A survey conducted earlier this year found skepticism about having a data center in the local area, driven by perceived negative impacts on the environment and on resources such as power and water. Even so, more people in that survey thought data centers could be good, rather than bad, for local tax revenue, a sign that voters see potential economic benefits even when they do not want the facilities nearby.

The CBS News exit poll interviewed thousands of voters across the country at polling locations on Election Day and in the weeks leading up to it. Results will continue to update as more votes are counted.