By Erik Reinthaler
WJI Intern

Growing opposition to proposed data centers, persistent concerns about the cost of living, and renewed public opinion on Act 10 were among the findings in the latest Marquette University Law School Poll, released Wednesday.

The latest poll gathered information from 838 Wisconsin registered voters from July 8-16.

Poll Director Charles Franklin presented the survey results at an event hosted by Derek Mosley, director of the law school’s Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education.

Inflation and the cost of living remained voters’ top concern, with 42% of respondents identifying it as the state’s most important issue. Immigration and border security followed at 13%, and health insurance at 9%.

Crime, an issue high on the list of voter concerns during the 2022 midterm election year, ranked low among voters’ current priorities, with just 3% of respondents identifying crime in their community as the state’s most important issue.

“The economic issues are really at the top of people’s minds,” Franklin said. “It’s not just one issue—it’s this sort of cluster of things that are connected to the cost of living and affordability.”

The survey found that 76% of registered voters believe the costs of data centers outweigh their benefits, up from 69% in March and 55% in October 2025. (The October 2025 question was specific to a Microsoft data center.) Opposition increased across Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Just 22% of respondents said the benefits outweigh the costs.

Despite those views, only 5% of respondents identified data centers as the state’s most important issue.

Franklin said the findings raise “an interesting question” about why widespread opposition to data centers has not translated into the issue becoming a major voting priority.

“Given how many people have turned out at planning commission meetings and city council meetings to oppose data centers, and this lopsided 76% opposed to them, it doesn’t look like it’s really the biggest motivator for voting this time,” he said.

Mosley joked that opposition to data centers appeared to be “something we can all agree on.”

“Oh yeah,” Franklin replied. “It’s nice that we can agree on being against something.”

The poll also revisited Wisconsin’s Act 10, which in 2011 terminated most collective bargaining rights for public sector employees.  The poll asked respondents whether the act should be repealed and collective bargaining rights restored for public employees. A slim majority of registered voters, 53%, favored repealing the law, while 46% said it should remain in place.

Franklin noted that the question had not been asked in several years and was worded differently than in previous Marquette polls, making direct comparisons difficult.

Although not discussed by Franklin, poll results posted online show that approval of the Wisconsin Supreme Court rose from 46% in March to 50% in July; 38% of respondents currently disapprove of the court.

The Supreme Court has maintained a positive net approval rating in every Marquette Poll since the question was first asked in 2023.