AI on the ballot: Data centers and the 2026 midterms

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, artificial intelligence has become an increasingly important issue in races across the country. Voters are weighing the costs and benefits of new data centers in their communities, and policymakers are grappling with those local concerns alongside the national security implications of building AI infrastructure abroad. At the same time, AI-enabled interference has raised concerns about the integrity of the information ecosystem, particularly during elections.  

On October 21, the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative at Brookings hosted an event to explore how decisions about where AI is built and how it is used have become part of the choices facing voters this fall. The event featured a fireside chat with Rep. James A. Himes (D-Conn.) on AI and the elections, followed by a panel discussion with Brookings experts on the economic, community, and geopolitical dimensions of data center development.