A data center backlash is upending Ohio’s Senate race

Key Points:

• Ohio faces a surge in political activism and ballot measures related to data centers, with 21 measures across 16 counties, reflecting widespread public concern about their local impact.
• Data centers have become a pivotal issue in Ohio's competitive 2024 elections, particularly in the Senate race where Democrat Sherrod Brown targets Republican Jon Husted for supporting tax breaks to data center developers.
• Over $14 million has been spent on data center-related ads in the Ohio Senate race, mostly attacking Husted and highlighting bipartisan voter unease about the environmental and economic effects of data centers.
• Both candidates express nuanced positions, advocating for community input and protections against rising utility costs, while recognizing potential job and investment benefits from data centers.
• Grassroots activists like Jessica Baker have become politically engaged due to data center developments, signaling a shift in voter priorities and the potential for this issue to influence election outcomes and future policy debates in Ohio.