CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten says Republicans and Democrats have found rare common ground heading into the 2026 midterm elections — and it involves growing opposition to artificial intelligence data centers being built in their communities.
Enten highlighted rising resistance to AI data centers Tuesday, pointing to polling showing majorities of both Democrats and Republicans oppose having the facilities constructed near where they live.
“There is no debate when it comes to where people stand on AI and data centers, and simply put: it’s electoral poison at this point,” Enten said.
Enten cited a recent Fox News survey that found 76% of Democrats and 60% of Republicans oppose construction of a data center in their area “to support artificial intelligence technology.”
The CNN analyst suggested politicians from both parties would be wise to steer clear of promoting data center construction on the campaign trail as the midterms approach.
And the opposition is not limited to party affiliation.
According to the Fox News survey, 75% of rural voters oppose having data centers built nearby, along with 63% of urban voters. Overall, 70% of voters said they were against data center construction in their area.
“You see across the board clear position which is a vast majority of Americans and voters are against building AI data centers,” Enten said. “When it comes to the politics of it, it is very clear, people are against it.”
The survey showed particularly strong opposition among white women with college degrees, with 84% opposing data centers.
MAGA-identified Republicans were the group most supportive of the facilities, according to the survey. But even among that group, only 46% said they favored having data centers built nearby.
That relative support comes as President Donald Trump has emerged as a vocal champion of data center construction.
Trump has criticized states such as New York for putting laws in place aimed at blocking their construction.
Last month, Trump ripped New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, over her decision to announce a data center ban, calling it a “terrible decision.”
Trump argued that data centers can provide major economic benefits through jobs and tax revenue, describing them as “LIQUID GOLD.”
The president has continued to tout the potential of the industry.
Earlier this month, Trump went even further when discussing the economic possibilities surrounding data centers, saying he believes they could eventually be “bigger than oil.”
But the polling highlighted by Enten shows Trump’s enthusiasm for the facilities is running up against significant resistance among voters — including Republicans.
With opposition stretching across party lines as well as rural and urban communities, Enten argued the political message is unusually straightforward.
For candidates heading into the 2026 midterms, the CNN analyst said the numbers leave little room for confusion: Most voters surveyed simply do not want AI data centers built near them.
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