AI ranked last among voter priorities in 2026 U.S. midterms
Exit polls conducted by NBC News and research firm SSRS found that only 56 percent of respondents said artificial intelligence and data center expansion mattered when they voted. That placed AI at the bottom of five issues surveyed. Government corruption led the list at 90 percent, followed by cost of living at 89 percent, the war in Iran at 74 percent, and immigration enforcement at 73 percent.
Key points
- 56% of voters said AI and data centers were a decisive or important factor, according to NBC News and SSRS exit polls
- AI ranked last among five issues, behind government corruption (90%), cost of living (89%), war in Iran (74%) and immigration enforcement (73%)
- Public interest in AI has surged recently, yet it remains the least‑prioritized voter issue in the 2026 midterms
Although public interest in AI has risen sharply in recent months, the polling shows the technology still trails every other topic by a wide margin in voter concerns. The results suggest that, despite growing media coverage and industry hype, AI remains a lower‑priority issue for the electorate as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Exit polls show AI ranked last among voter priorities in the 2026 U.S. midterms
The Decoder · 4 November 2026
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This text was published by The Decoder and written by Matthias Bastian. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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