Local data-center opposition rose in both parties
Annenberg found local opposition rising from 49% to 61% in 2026. Republican opposition reached 54%; Democratic opposition reached 69%.
The short version
- From February–March to June–July 2026, opposition rose from 39% to 54% among Republicans and from 57% to 69% among Democrats, including leaners.
- Overall opposition increased from 49% to 61%; Annenberg reports a statistically significant overall shift. Party movements are descriptive estimates.
Why it matters. In these waves, local data-center resistance became a majority position in both party groups, even as broader AI expectations stayed stable.
Local construction drew more opposition
In Annenberg’s first 2026 wave, fewer than half of respondents opposed new data centers in their communities. By summer, roughly six in ten did. The increase appeared in both major-party groups. Published findings
Yet the broader AI question told a different story. The share expecting a negative effect on the US over the next decade moved from 42% to 39%, a change the pollster describes as statistically unchanged.
A separate snapshot points to resistance, too
Gallup’s March survey found 71% opposed local AI data-center construction. It asked a different question, so that result is shown separately in the interactive opinion tracker.
These surveys show changing attitudes, not what caused them.
The supporting record
Annenberg's rounded local opposition estimate rose from 49% in February–March to 61% in June–July 2026.
In the same topline, Republicans including leaners moved from 39% to 54%; Democrats including leaners moved from 57% to 69%.
The share expecting a negative US impact from AI over the next decade changed from 42% to 39%, which Annenberg describes as statistically unchanged.
Gallup's March 2026 telephone survey found 71% opposed local AI data-center construction, with 56% of Democrats and 39% of Republicans strongly opposed.
What we do not yet know
- How much of the change is due to specific messages, local conditions, or other events.
- Whether the shift continues beyond the latest comparable fieldwork included here.
- The uncertainty of each party difference without a published subgroup change test.
Original documents, with context
Sources you can inspect
1. Survey topline and crosstabs · Annenberg Public Policy Center
Annenberg AI survey: August 2026 topline and two-wave comparisons
Primary published estimates, not respondent microdata. Both waves use this release’s stable party grouping. NET totals use unrounded components; panel overlap and subgroup uncertainty matter.
Publication: 2026-08-10 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: appc-ai-august-topline
Location in source: Pages 1–2: method/party definitions; pages 3–5: AI3/AI7; page 14: change estimates2. Survey research release · Annenberg Public Policy Center
Annenberg reports increasing opposition to local data centers
Publisher’s interpretation of its own survey, not independent corroboration. The overall construction shift is reported as significant; broader AI outlook is described as stable.
Publication: 2026-08-11 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: appc-data-centers-august
Location in source: Local data-center opposition; overall AI outlook; survey methods3. Survey research release · Annenberg Public Policy Center
Annenberg spring 2026 AI survey release
Used for spring fieldwork and methods. The August comparative topline supplies both waves’ charted values so versions and party definitions are not mixed.
Publication: 2026-05-13 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: appc-ai-may
Location in source: Survey methods: field dates, sample, mode, party leaners, full-sample margin4. Survey panel methodology · SSRS / Annenberg Public Policy Center
SSRS methods for Annenberg’s Institutions of Democracy panel
The linked report describes panel recruitment and earlier fieldwork. Its older sample size/margin must not be substituted for the 2026 wave-specific figures.
Publication: 2024 panel methods, linked by 2026 releases · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: appc-panel-method
Location in source: PDF pages 3–4: citizen population, probability-based recruitment, web/phone modes5. Survey research release · Gallup
Gallup’s first local AI data-center construction poll
A national snapshot, not a Gallup time trend. The article also discusses a different April follow-up; those responses are not used as March construction-opinion data.
Publication: 2026-05-13 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: gallup-data-centers-may
Location in source: March field dates; first measurement; party differences in strong opposition6. Survey topline and crosstabs · Gallup
Gallup March 2026 data-center question and party crosstabs
The full-sample margin is not a party subgroup margin. Strong opposition is not total opposition. The local-AI wording and response options differ from Annenberg’s instrument.
Publication: Released May 13, 2026; fielded March 2–18 · Checked: 2026-09-07
Source record: gallup-data-centers-topline
Location in source: PDF page 1: method; page 2: Q51; page 3: QN51 Party I.D. columns
Corrections & additional evidence · support@aipublicopinion.com
