A Gallup poll released on May 13, 2026 found that 71% of Americans oppose the construction of an AI data center in their community. The AI infrastructure buildout, backed by companies including OpenAI, Oracle, Amazon, and Microsoft, carries a price tag of roughly $600 billion. During 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. More than 200 data centers are currently under construction in competitive House districts, and at least eight local ballot measures are scheduled for November 2026 on this issue. Candidates from both parties, such as Francesca Hong in Wisconsin, Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio, and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, are incorporating this issue into their campaigns.
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