New Study: Americans Underestimate Public Opposition to AI Data Centers, Especially Among Republicans and Independents
The construction of AI data centers has rapidly become a major issue in communities across the country–and a delicate topic for politicians and parties ahead of the midterm elections.
It may become vexing for many, especially Republican leaders, who are caught between a President proclaiming unqualified support for the physical infrastructure needed by advanced AI and often boisterous, bipartisan opposition in home districts.
Despite the attention the issue is receiving, a new study by the Center for Media Innovation & Social Impact (MISI) and the Communication Research Center at Boston University’s College of Communication, conducted by Ipsos, actually finds that Americans underestimate opposition to data centers within every political group. Public perception of Republicans’ and Independents’ views on the issue are especially out of step with where they actually stand: just 21% believe Republicans oppose data center construction, though 37% actually do. Only 28% believe the same of Independents, though the true figure is 56%.
MISI Director Eric Gordon said the disconnect reflects a broader pattern in how Americans are processing this issue. “The misrecognition of groups’ sentiment about AI data centers reflects the current fog of politics, where opposition to these physical places actually reflects much deeper anxieties and resentments about AI,” Gordon said.
This misperception sits within a broader picture. The study found that data center construction is opposed by a majority of citizens overall (51%), with a quarter still unsure and a quarter in support. That means that among those who expressed an opinion, 68% are opposed–in line with other recent polls.
Notably, more Republicans than either Independents or Democrats (28%, compared to 25% and 20% respectively) have either not formed a position or are unsure of their feelings about data centers. This likely reflects mixed signals from party leadership. Democrats and Republicans are equally likely to (correctly) believe that President Trump supports data center construction (57% and 58%, respectively), but Republicans are far more likely to be unsure of his position or believe he hasn’t taken one (30% versus 14% of Democrats).
That uncertainty is most acute among the plurality of Republicans who personally oppose data centers: 45% of this group are either unsure of where Trump stands or believe he does not have a position, a sign of the cross-pressure between their own views, the views of Republicans around them, and their party’s standard-bearer. By contrast, 86% of Republicans who personally support data centers correctly believe that Trump does, too.
MISI Associate Director for Research Chris Wells said this uncertainty may be a sign of a shift still underway. “We are looking at the emergence of a new political issue, something fairly rare in our polarized environment,” Wells said. “What remains to be seen is whether rank-and-file Republicans will bring their opinions into alignment with their party leader, as they have with many issues in the past, or demand position changes from their party.”
Survey Summary
Question: AI data centers are large facilities containing computing infrastructure used to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems. To what extent do you think each of the following supports or opposes the construction of AI data centers?
Respondents were asked about:
- You personally
Strongly oppose: 31%
Somewhat oppose: 19%
Neither support nor oppose: 22%
Somewhat support: 15%
Strongly support: 9%
Don’t know: 4%
- Democrats
Strongly oppose: 24%
Somewhat oppose: 23%
Neither support nor oppose: 19%
Somewhat support: 14%
Strongly support: 10%
Don’t know: 11%
- Republicans
Strongly oppose: 9%
Somewhat oppose: 12%
Neither support nor oppose: 18%
Somewhat support: 28%
Strongly support: 25%
Don’t know: 8%
- President Donald Trump
Strongly oppose: 14%
Somewhat oppose: 5%
Neither support nor oppose: 12%
Somewhat support: 18%
Strongly support: 39%
Don’t know: 11%
- Independents
Strongly oppose: 12%
Somewhat oppose: 16%
Neither support nor oppose: 32%
Somewhat support: 19%
Strongly support: 7%
Don’t know: 14%
About the Media & Technology Survey
The Media & Technology Survey is an ongoing project of the Communication Research Center (CRC) the Center for Media Innovation & Social Impact (MISI) at Boston University’s College of Communication. This month’s poll was administered by Ipsos in English on Sept 8-9, 2026, among 1,005 U.S. residents. This online survey has a credibility interval (CI) of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. The data were weighted to the U.S. population data by region, gender, age and education. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error.
Contact: Burton Glass, Boston University College of Communication, bglass@bu.edu
