New Statewide Poll: Voters Need Protections to Support Data Centers; Gov. Whitmer Bucks Second-Term Popularity Trends

Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber released findings from its latest statewide poll of 600 registered Michigan voters in partnership with The Glengariff Group, Inc. at the Mackinac Policy Conference. The poll was conducted between April 28 and May 1, 2026.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is defying historical trends for second-term approval ratings as she remains one of the most popular governors in the country.

• 52.2% of Michigan voters approve of the job being done by Whitmer, 39.0% disapprove.
• Average net approval rating declines 13 percentage points during governors’ second terms, but Whitmer’s approval rating has increased over 15 percentage points since the start of her first term. (Sources: McKinsey & Company, Morning Consult)
• Whitmer ranks 5th highest overall approval rating among the 27 second-term governors. (Source: Morning Consult)

Michigan voters say they need to have regulatory control of data centers to support them, and see no connection between their personal use of electronic and smart devices and the need for data centers. In addition to seeking protections against rate hikes, voters oppose NDAs and incentives for data center projects and want protections such as closed-loop water systems. When asked, voters also say that data centers are important to the future of the automotive industry.

• Voters say that regulations on data centers are “crucial” when asked about how important it was to get them to consider a data center within 25 miles of their home, with three of the four regulations scoring above 80%:
  • Cost of electricity protections/no rate hikes for other residential or business customers/data center pays for grid upgrades.
  • That state and local governments are not allowed to provide additional tax incentives/benefits to attract a data center, and no government official can sign an NDA.
  • Data centers should be required to use a closed-loop water system for cooling.
• When voters are asked if they support data centers in their regions, the overwhelming majority say “no.” By a margin of 48.7%-41.3%, a plurality of Michigan voters would shift to consider a data center within 25 miles of their homes if these proposed regulations were in place.

• By a margin of 53.3%-35.0%, Michigan voters believe data centers are important to retaining the automotive industry.

• 5% of voters said their own use of computers and cellphones had no impact on the need for data centers, 31.7% said their usage increased the need, and 3.5% said their usage decreased the need.

Michiganders do not recognize how poorly Michigan ranks nationally on many key indicators after a decline across multiple governors and legislatures. Overall, they believe that both parties should compromise on a plan to solve the long-standing issues facing the Great Lakes State.

• Voters have no idea of Michigan’s problems, particularly its drop in per capita income, where only one in four voters were aware of Michigan’s standing.
  • 8% are unaware that Michigan’s fourth-grade reading scores rank 44th in the nation.
  • 8% are unaware that Michigan’s January 2026 unemployment rate was 4.9%, ranking just six states below the state with the highest unemployment rate.
  • 2% are unaware that Michigan has dropped from 16th place to 39th place in per-person income over the past 25 years compared to other states.
• Voters are strongly united, saying both parties should compromise on a plan.

Common ground for Michigan voters appears that the two-party system is failing the U.S., as this survey highlights rare, broad bipartisan support amid divisive times.

• By a margin of 25.0%-68.7%, voters overwhelmingly believe the two-party system does not serve America well.
• There is strong bipartisan agreement across all party affiliations that the two-party system does not serve America well.
• By a margin of 15.5%-75.5%, voters do not think the Democratic Party has the same values as they did 20 years ago. For Republicans, the margin is 19.5%-69.2%.
• The Chamber’s February 2026 polling showed Michigan voters’ overwhelming desire for compromise by a margin of 91% to 4.2%, saying they want both parties in Michigan to compromise to solve the state’s problems.
• Politics continues to be rooted in polarization as politicians are no longer rewarded for appealing to the middle.
• In the Chamber’s February 2025 polling, a majority of Michigan voters said they believe neither party in Michigan is producing the type of candidates who can deliver results. They also said neither party is producing the type of candidates to deliver results, and also appeared open to the idea of an Independent party candidate for governor.

For the first time since January 2025, more people expect a recession in the next year than a growing economy as fears of inflation reach their highest point in any of the Chamber’s previous surveys. The lowest percentage of voters in any previous survey believes that good jobs are available, as “right track-wrong track” numbers skew along party lines.

• Fears of inflation have climbed to 49%, the highest levels dating back to 2023, when this question has been asked in this survey. 18.3% expect inflation to get better, and 28.7% expect it to stay the same.

• 3% of voters say good jobs are available, while 39.8% say good jobs are not available. These figures represent a continuing slide from 62.7% in May 2024. The 39.8% of voters saying good jobs are not available represents the highest percentage since the question was asked.

• 8% of Michigan voters believe the state is on the right track and 42.5% believe the state is on the wrong track, while 11.7% of voters could not offer an opinion. This figure represents a five-point increase in the wrong track since early February 2026.
• By a margin of 36.8%-45.7%, Michigan voters believe Michigan’s economy is on the wrong track. 17.5% of voters could not offer an opinion.

• Among the 26.0% of respondents who said they are doing worse, 59.0% cited inflation, but 71.8% cited an affordability issue, including costs, gas prices, not being able to earn a livable wage, and living on a fixed income.
• 0% of voters now see a weakening economy — up from 56.8% in February 2026, while those seeing a growing economy have fallen to 37.5%.