A new POLITICO Poll finds Americans increasingly oppose data centers near their homes, and voters lean toward candidates who oppose them.
A new POLITICO Poll, published October 25, 2026, suggests the public mood on data centers is turning. Americans are increasingly against building them near their homes. They also favor candidates who oppose data centers over candidates who support them.
A data center is a large building full of computers. These machines power the apps you use, store your files in the cloud and run AI tools. Most people never see one. The poll suggests that when one is planned close to home, many people do not want it.
Anyone who lives in a town where a data center could be built may feel this first. The same goes for local officials and for candidates asking for votes. Businesses that rely on cloud services and AI tools are affected too, because those services depend on these buildings.
The material available gives only a short summary of the poll. It does not say how many people were surveyed, how large the lean toward opposing candidates is, or which places or groups feel strongest. It also does not explain why opinion is shifting.
A data center planned near you could become a local election issue. That may shape which projects get approved. Watching local meetings and candidate positions is one way to see how this plays out where you live.
Data centers near home are becoming a political issue, and a planned one in your area could shape local votes and project approvals.
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