Full Breakdown
Data Centers Drive Ohio’s Senate Race
By Drooid · · How we work
The Central Contest
Former Democratic senator Sherrod Brown and Republican Jon Husted are locked in a tight Ohio Senate race, each making hyperscale data centers—a key AI infrastructure—central to their campaigns. Brown paints Husted as the “face of data centers,” arguing that corporate tax breaks raise Ohioans’ electricity bills. Husted says local communities, not the federal government, should decide on data-center siting and that operators must cover the full cost of power and grid upgrades.
Polling Landscape
An NBC News poll of 500 registered voters (Sept 11-15) found 64 % would be less likely to support a candidate backing a data-center project, with 51 % “much less likely.” The same poll gave Democrats a 12-point trust advantage on data-center issues.
State tracking shows a statistical tie: Quantus Insights (695 likely voters, Sept 21-23) gave Brown 45.6 % vs. Husted 45.3 %; Trafalgar Group (same sample) reported Brown 45.4 % vs. Husted 41.5 %; BGSU/YouGov (1,085 likely voters, Sept 14-16) showed Brown 48 % to Husted 45 %; InsiderAdvantage (1,200, Sept 8-9) gave Brown 47 % to Husted 42 %; Fox News (1,008, Aug 6-10) recorded Brown 53 % vs. Husted 45 %. A NYT/Siena poll (601, June 15-28) placed Husted ahead 50 % to 47 %. As of Sept 25, the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the race a toss-up.
Legislative Angle: the Ratepayer Protection Act
Husted authored the Ratepayer Protection Act, requiring data-center operators to pay for the electricity and grid upgrades they consume, preventing cost shifts to ratepayers. The measure passed the House with 206 Democratic votes and now awaits a procedural vote in the Senate before full debate.
Senate Democratic leadership is divided. Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) pledged procedural support but said the bill “didn’t go far enough.” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) would back a motion only if amendments—such as his “Power for the People Act”—were attached. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) called the bill “voluntary” and urged a stronger alternative.
Labor Union Reactions
Ohio’s construction trades, which have benefited from the data-center boom, are uneasy with Brown’s anti-data-center messaging. Union leaders note a rise in annual working hours from 4 million in 2014 to 20 million this year, but warn political attacks could jeopardize future projects.
On-the-Ground Voices
Local residents echo the candidates’ concerns. Len Gordon, speaking outside a planning commission meeting, warned that a proposed facility would “destroy this town.” Deborah Zimmerer said higher power bills, water use, land loss and declining property values would “most definitely” influence the November vote.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Polls differ on who leads: most show Brown ahead, while the NYT/Siena poll favors Husted. The Senate’s procedural stance on the Ratepayer Protection Act remains unclear; some Democrats will advance it only with amendments, others are undecided. No definitive timeline exists for a final vote, and the bill’s impact on the broader election dynamics is still uncertain.