Full Breakdown
Ohio Data Centers Become Central Issue in 2026 Senate Race
By Drooid · · How we work
The Data Center Debate in Ohio’s 2026 Senate Contest
Large AI-focused data centers have proliferated across Ohio, prompting both Senate candidates—Republican Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown—to make the issue a focal point of their campaigns.
Background and Context
Activist Erin Brockovich’s map of “major AI-focused and hyperscale” campuses shows dozens of facilities under construction or operating, especially around Columbus, Licking, Union and Franklin counties. Since 2022, Ohio has granted at least $2.3 billion in sales-tax rebates to data-center developers, according to Signal Ohio. Proponents cite union jobs and economic revitalization; critics point to water consumption, electricity demand and limited long-term employment.
Voter Sentiment and Polling Data
A Bowling Green State University poll of 1,000 likely voters (Sept. 1-10) found 75 % would oppose a data center in their community and 63 % opposed them anywhere in the state. An InsiderAdvantage poll (Oct. 21-22) gave Brown a three-point lead (47 % to 44 %); a Fox News poll (Oct. 15-19) showed Brown ahead by five points (52 % to 47 %). Both polls have margins of error around ±3-4 points.
Positions of the Candidates
*Jon Husted* – The former lieutenant governor supported tax breaks that attracted data centers and introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would have required states to set standards for large electricity users. The Senate defeated the bill after Democratic senators voted it down, arguing it did not go far enough. Husted’s spokesperson Amy Natoce says he believes data-center decisions “should remain a local decision” because “every community has different priorities.”
*Sherrod Brown* – Brown frames data centers as a corporate burden on Ohio families. His campaign calls for operators to pay the full cost of the electricity they consume and opposes subsidies that shift those costs to ratepayers.
Labor Union Perspectives
Dorsey Hager, executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, argues that politicians opposing data centers are “unhelpful,” noting that union members view construction as a source of well-paid, unionized jobs.
Legislative Efforts and Outcomes
The Ohio Senate passed bipartisan legislation requiring data-center companies to pay for the power they use; however, Senate Democrats blocked the measure, leaving the issue unresolved. Husted’s earlier Ratepayer Protection Act also failed. No statewide ban has been enacted, though a petition in Licking County seeks to prohibit facilities larger than 25 megawatts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Was I tickled to death when I saw some of his commercials? Absolutely not,” — Dorsey Hager
What’s Next
Early voting for the 2026 Ohio Senate race is underway, and forecasters such as the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball continue to label the contest a toss-up. Both campaigns are expected to intensify messaging on data-center regulation as the election approaches, making the issue a decisive factor for voters who remain largely opposed to further construction.