What changed
Exit polls conducted by NBC News and SSRS revealed that AI and data centers were ranked last among voter priorities in the 2026 U.S. midterms. Only 56% of respondents considered AI and data centers a decisive or important factor in how they voted, placing the issue at the bottom of the five topics surveyed.
What this means in practice
The survey highlights a significant gap between public interest in AI and its perceived importance in the political landscape. While public interest in AI has surged in recent months, the topic still trailed every other issue by a wide margin. Government corruption was the top priority, with 90% of respondents considering it a decisive or important factor, followed by the cost of living at 89%, the war in Iran at 74%, and immigration enforcement at 73%.
Limitations and availability
The supplied announcement does not specify the methodology or sample size of the exit polls. It also does not provide details on how the data was collected or any potential biases in the survey. The results are based on self-reported voter priorities and may not reflect the broader population's views. The findings are part of a broader trend in public sentiment toward AI and its role in political discourse.
