MAGA begins to crack as 2026 GOP roster backs away from Trump's tech vision

With a slew of polls showing that most Americans oppose the construction in their communities of new data centers to power AI, a growing number of Republicans running in this year's elections are putting daylight between themselves and President Donald Trump .

Trump, a strong proponent of data center development, took to social media Monday to argue that if communities "want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign." But with GOP strategists warning that data centers have become politically radioactive, some Republicans on the midterm ballot are reversing course, which is a stark shift in a party that previously had fully embraced the burgeoning AI industry.

Seventy percent of voters questioned in a recent Fox News poll said they wanted to hit the brakes on building data centers in their area to support artificial intelligence, with only 30% in favor.

Only 40% of Republicans, and 46% of MAGA Republicans supported new data center construction.

CRUCIAL SENATE RACE ERUPTS OVER AI'S MASSIVE ENERGY APPETITE Fueling the opposition are concerns over rising electricity costs and energy and water consumption.

"I think we need to take a pause, probably, and make sure that we're answering all the questions that people have on them," former Rep.

Mike Rogers, the GOP Senate nominee in battleground Michigan, said two weeks ago when asked about data center construction.

Rogers, who previously welcomed data center expansion in Michigan, later outlined a one-year moratorium, arguing that "Michigan needs stronger guardrails to protect community control, prevent utility price hikes, protect our water, and stop pay-to-play schemes." DEMOCRAT FETTERMAN ALIGNS WITH TRUMP ON AI ARGUMENT He's far from alone.

In Ohio's crucial Senate race between appointed GOP Sen.

Jon Husted and his Democratic challenger, former longtime Sen.

Sherrod Brown, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) warned that the issue could help the Democrats flip the seat.

Brown and allied groups have shelled out millions of dollars to run ads calling Husted "the face of data centers in Ohio." "More than any other thing in this race, data centers are the anchor hanging around Husted’s neck," the NRSC memo emphasized.

Husted has introduced a Senate bill to stop average Americans from paying for data center energy costs.

BERNIE SANDERS: 'WE MUST HIT THE PAUSE ON AI BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE' The political pushback stretches well beyond Michigan and Ohio.