The Ohio Senate race between incumbent Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) and former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has focused on the expansion of data centers within the state. Brown has criticized Husted’s past support for tax incentives for these facilities, while Husted has introduced federal legislation aimed at requiring data center developers to pay for the power they use.
Ohio currently hosts 240 data centers, with additional projects such as a new "AI factory" in Portsmouth recently announced by Nvidia and OpenAI. The growth of the industry has led to local and statewide pushback, including a citizen initiative in Grove City to require referendums on large-scale developments and a statewide movement, Conserve Ohio, seeking a constitutional amendment to ban certain high-energy centers.
Brown's campaign has released three advertisements highlighting Husted's role as lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2025 in securing tax deals for developers, which Brown claims have contributed to rising utility bills for residents. In response, Husted’s campaign cited his recent Senate bill, which would set a federal standard for developers to cover utility costs and return unused power to the electrical grid.
A resident or small-business owner in Ohio would notice the impact through their electricity costs and property taxes, as well as the physical presence of these facilities in their communities. If the Conserve Ohio amendment moves forward, it would specifically target facilities using more than 25 megawatts of energy per month, potentially halting large-scale tech expansions. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) warned in a private memo that the public perception of data centers in this race could set a precedent for how the industry is treated by policymakers nationwide, potentially leading to more moratoriums similar to those already signed in New York and Pennsylvania.
What happens next depends on the November election and several pending legislative and ballot efforts. In Grove City, voters will decide on a charter amendment this November to require public approval for data centers. Meanwhile, the gubernatorial race features candidates Vivek Ramaswamy (R) and Amy Acton (D) who both support restrictions or moratoriums on the industry, suggesting that state-level policy changes may occur regardless of the Senate race outcome. No specific date for a vote on Husted’s federal bill was reported.