Story perspectives

Poll Shows 61% Oppose Nearby Data Centers in 2026

9/7/2026

Left

Candidates Target Data Centers

Data center construction became a prominent issue in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, prompting candidates to propose restrictions and tax reforms.
Opponents stress that the projects threaten air quality, water supplies and energy use, arguing they deliver limited economic benefit.
Hanford residents warned a proposed fair-grounds data center would worsen air quality and water strain.
An Economist/YouGov poll found 61% of Americans would oppose a data center built near homes.

Right

Candidates Target Data

Data center construction is an issue in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, prompting candidates to propose restrictions and tax reforms.
Supporters say projects deliver construction jobs and raise tax revenue for small communities, countering Democratic claims of Republican tax breaks.
Democrats allege Republicans used President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” for data-center tax breaks.
Rep. Jason Smith called the criticism a “huge stretch,” noting opportunity zones host many businesses.

Center

Candidates Target Data

Data center construction has become an issue in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, prompting candidates and officials to propose restrictions and tax reforms.
Both Republican and Democratic candidates are using data-center opposition in their campaigns, with about $45 million in ads split evenly between parties.
The 2025 tax bill added data centers to Opportunity Zone credits.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered an audit, pausing grid connections and urging tax incentive repeal.

Blindspot

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas researchers reported an 8% decline in AI-exposed job postings for college graduates in Texas, the state with the most data centers.
Within this story's sources, this data point appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center- and Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zone credits, spurring $10 billion in tax-exempt bonds and a 12% jump in data-center construction by 2020. Targeted incentives echo tax measures such as the Civil War income tax, which have provoked political fights. In the 2026 midterms, Rep. Jason Smith defends the zones while Gov. Greg Abbott backs audits, amid a YouGov poll showing 61% public opposition.

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Candidates Target Data Centers

Data center construction became a prominent issue in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, prompting candidates to propose restrictions and tax reforms.
Opponents stress that the projects threaten air quality, water supplies and energy use, arguing they deliver limited economic benefit.
Hanford residents warned a proposed fair-grounds data center would worsen air quality and water strain.
An Economist/YouGov poll found 61% of Americans would oppose a data center built near homes.

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