Dan Diorio, executive vice president at the Data Center Coalition representing Google, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon's AWS, defended data centers as job creators. "Recent polling data reinforces our view of the importance of continued efforts to better explain the role of the industry to the public," Diorio said. As the issue gains salience, Democrats could take a hard line while Republicans risk a populist backlash.

"I think it's right for the leaders to be stepping back from this to see how it develops on the ground," said Brad Carson, former Oklahoma Democratic representative and head of Public First Action. "But if you're a Democratic politician, for better or worse, this is just catnip because it's a question that divides the Republican base."

In January, 36 percent of Harris voters supported a nearby data center, 33 percent opposed. By July, 53 percent opposed, just 22 percent supported.