US voters decide the future of AI data centers in the midterm elections, with OpenAI stating they will become a core issue in the 2028 general election. Currently, there are over 40 data center-related ballot measures across more than a dozen states nationwide, with at least half of them in Ohio. Amid growing community concerns over data centers, a September poll by the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed that only 11% of Americans support the construction of data centers within their communities. Chris Lehane, OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer, stated that these midterm elections serve as a "trailer" for the 2028 election, and the AI data center issue could become the most pressing topic of the 2028 election cycle.