Midterm Polling: Voters Seek Stricter AI Rules

A recent poll of Iowa and Ohio voters found that the vast majority want greater regulation of artificial intelligence. The data, published online for SEMAFOR, lands as midterm candidates finalize their pitches to the public. The findings suggest a shift in how Americans view the technology just weeks before Election Day.

Chris Borick, a political science professor at Lehigh University, said AI has become a major issue in several races over the last few months. He noted that the political rhetoric around AI has changed significantly compared to previous new technologies. Traditionally, Americans viewed new tech as a positive part of the political economy. Borick said that dynamic flipped in the last year, with a much more neutral and sometimes negative political position emerging on AI.

Borick said the political calculus surrounding AI has moved from positive to negative in both red and blue states. This shift follows a public backlash. He attributed the change to growing concerns about the technology’s effect on society, the economy, and local communities. He stated that these concerns have really popped in this election cycle.

Shobita Parthasarathy, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan, identified differences in how the two major parties discuss the issue. She said Republicans have been in a much closer position with AI companies over the last year plus. Parthasarathy said this alignment leads Republican candidates to talk more about cost issues. She noted that they generally avoid broader issues and are less likely to discuss a moratorium.

Borick pointed to the local level as a site for potential political realignment. He said that conservatives, liberals, Republicans, and Democrats often align in opposition to data centers. He said that when this happens, it creates the potential for political realignments that the country might be experiencing.

The survey results provide a concrete baseline for voter sentiment in the Midwest. The poll found that most respondents support increased oversight of AI. This data joins a growing body of evidence that the technology is now a central fixture in the national conversation.