AI backlash concentrated in blue states, posing risk to Democrats

The Brookings report found that 62 out of the 100 most AI-exposed counties voted Democrat in 2024, including traditional blue strongholds like Manhattan and the Bay Area. These areas tend to have higher proportions of white-collar jobs, which are more susceptible to AI automation. This concentration of AI anxiety in areas that already lean Democrat presents a double-edged sword for the party: it could be an advantage if they effectively leverage the issue, but also a vulnerability if the backlash turns local and alienates voters.

Furthermore, a survey by the University of Pennsylvania revealed that a majority of Americans consider AI's deployment to involve significant risks, with 65% believing the government is doing too little to regulate it. Rising electricity prices, partly driven by the energy demands of data centers, are also becoming a campaign issue. The concentration of AI-exposed workers in Democratic-voting areas suggests that this issue could become a make-or-break factor for the party in the upcoming elections.