President Donald Trump has emphasized the urgency of the United States' artificial intelligence competition with China, framing it as a national security issue that requires accelerated technology development and the expansion of necessary infrastructure, such as data centers. However, a recent CNBC All-America Economic Survey highlights a significant political dilemma beneath this agenda: while Republican voters largely endorse the advancement of AI, many resist the establishment of the extensive infrastructure needed to support it in their localities.
The survey shows that nearly 55% of MAGA supporters advocate for ongoing AI development as Congress formulates regulations, contrasted with 27% who prefer a halt. Yet, only 29% would approve of a data center being located within 10 miles of their homes, with 40% firmly opposing it. This reluctance extends to all Republican and Republican-leaning voters, where only 24% express support for nearby data centers. On a broader scale, 63% of voters overall disfavor having a data center close to their residences, with only 13% in favor. Opposition is most pronounced among Democrats, with a striking 80% against local facilities.
This growing opposition is prompting Trump and GOP leaders, who previously supported the idea of data centers, to reassess their positions as they navigate a challenging midterm election landscape. Brad Carson, a former Oklahoma congressman and co-founder of Public First Action PAC, an organization advocating for stronger regulations in the AI sector, noted that public frustration with data centers is significant. He stressed the public's demand for sound regulations surrounding AI, indicating that this sentiment could pose challenges for politicians.
The CNBC survey, which included 1,000 registered voters from October 14 to 18 and carries a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points, reveals that concerns about data centers and AI oversight are rising. Eighteen percent of respondents mentioned inadequate regulation of AI and data centers as a primary concern under a Republican-controlled Congress. This concern ranks just behind ongoing military involvement in Iran and surpasses other issues like healthcare subsidies cuts and tariffs.
GOP strategists have taken this backlash seriously. The National Republican Senatorial Committee alerted AI companies in August about the potential adverse effects of data center opposition on Senator Jon Husted's reelection campaign in Ohio, identifying it as a critical midterm issue. Previously, Husted had promoted a significant $10 billion expansion by Amazon Web Services as vital for the nation's economic advancement, but now he is pushing legislation to require data centers to bear the costs associated with their energy consumption.
Texas provides another example of this evolving stance. Governor Greg Abbott, who once touted the state as a hub for AI development, has recently paused data center permits to evaluate their impacts on the power grid and water supply, also calling for the cancellation of state tax incentives associated with these projects. Trump appears to feel the political pressure as well; he recently suggested on Truth Social that data center developers should provide financial dividends to local communities and generate their own energy, positing that such initiatives could improve public perception of these projects.
Currently, voters lean slightly toward Democrats regarding the management of data center expansion, with 32% expressing trust in their ability to handle the issue compared to 24% for Republicans. Moreover, 27% believe neither party will effectively address the challenge.
