As AI and data centers have emerged as a key theme in the 2026 midterms, preliminary Voter Polls across a range of states indicate the issue is a concern for many voters.
In New Hampshire, AI data centers are a crucial factor for around a quarter of voters, of whom about 8 in 10 believe that AI will do more to help than hurt society, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Poll findings.
In Ohio, about 6 in 10 of the Senate voters in the state say artificial intelligence will do more to hurt society than to help it, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Polls, while around a quarter say it will do more to help and 1 in 5 say neither
In Nebraska, where independent U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn has made data centers a key issue in his campaign, about 6 in 10 Nebraska Senate voters say artificial intelligence will do more to hurt society than to help it, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Polls. Around a quarter say it will do more to help and 1 in 5 say neither.
Overall, around 1 in 5 Nebraskan Senate voters say AI data centers were crucial in their vote for Congress, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Polls.
In North Carolina, where Raleigh and other cities are voting on data center moratoriums, about 6 in 10 of North Carolina Senate voters say AI does more to hurt society, while roughly one-quarter say it does more to help society, according to preliminary ABC News Voter Poll findings.