NYT Siena poll finds Americans oppose AI data centers and split on parties

In short: A new New York Times and Siena College poll finds Americans are uneasy about AI, strongly oppose AI data centers, and do not see either party as clearly better at handling AI.

What's going on

A September 2026 New York Times and Siena College national poll of registered voters suggests neither Democrats nor Republicans have “owned” the issue of artificial intelligence. In an Axios breakdown of the same poll, voters who were asked which party they trust more to handle AI leaned slightly Republican, 42% to 40%, which is within the poll’s margin of error.

Views also differ by age and gender. Republicans do better with people ages 45 to 64, while Democrats lead heavily among voters ages 18 to 29. Men are more likely to say they trust Republicans on AI, while women lean toward Democrats or say they are skeptical.

The strongest finding is about data centers, the large buildings filled with computers that store and process information (like a giant warehouse for the internet). When asked about building data centers in the US to support AI, 61% opposed it and 33% supported it. Opposition was especially intense, with 41% saying they “strongly oppose.”

The same poll found 39% support a complete ban on new data centers, and 56% support limits and regulations. When people explained their opposition, they most often cited environmental and water use concerns, local strain on communities, and a general distrust of AI.

What to watch

These numbers are already shaping campaign messages for 2026 races. Both parties are trying to avoid looking “pro data center,” especially when projects are proposed near where voters live, similar to how people often oppose a noisy new highway in their neighborhood.

Source: NYTimes