Senate Republicans are expressing concern that a public backlash against data centers could jeopardize their chances of retaining a crucial Senate seat in Ohio, according to a memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The campaign committee's internal polling indicates that incumbent Republican Senator John Husted and his Democratic challenger, former Senator Sherrod Brown, are in a "dead heat" in the upcoming election, with data centers emerging as a significant issue.
"More than any other thing in this race, data centers are the anchor hanging around Husted's neck," the memo states. "If he loses and data centers get the blame, politicians across the country will take notice -- and they will not go near the next one."
Brown has made his opposition to data centers a central theme of his campaign, aiming to tie Husted to their proliferation in Ohio. He has also sought to link Husted to tax breaks granted to data centers by Republican Governor Mike DeWine's administration. The Ohio Democratic Party echoed this sentiment, stating that Ohioans "will hold [Husted] accountable" for rising utility bills.
In response to these concerns, Governor DeWine paused new tax exemptions for data centers in May. Senator Husted also introduced a proposal in the Senate aimed at requiring states to establish new standards for data centers, ensuring they cover their own power generation costs and that consumers are not burdened by the expense of new transmission or infrastructure.
Data centers, which are essential for processing the large volumes of data required by artificial intelligence systems, have become a contentious issue nationwide. These facilities house thousands of servers, demanding substantial land, water for cooling, and energy, which can strain local power grids. Despite their significant infrastructure needs, they employ relatively few workers long-term.
Ohio is a major hub for data centers, ranking fifth in the country with over 200 such facilities, according to the Ohio Consumers' Counsel.
A recent Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local areas, citing concerns about quality of life, economic impact, resource strain, pollution, water usage, electricity bills, and broader anxieties about artificial intelligence.
While former President Donald Trump has encouraged local leaders to embrace data centers, acknowledging their potential for job creation and tax revenue, he also noted they could benefit from "a little public relations help."
Concerns about data centers are influencing political races across the country. Democratic governors in New York and Pennsylvania have recently signed executive orders limiting or pausing the development of certain types of data centers. In Wisconsin, a Republican congressional candidate running for governor has criticized his Democratic opponent for past comments on data center development. Similarly, a Texas state representative has made data center impacts a key issue in her campaign against Governor Greg Abbott, who has ordered an audit of data centers and paused new grid approvals for related projects.
AI companies have invested millions in congressional races, supporting or opposing candidates based on their stances on artificial intelligence regulation and data center development. The GOP memo, first reported by Axios, highlights the focus on construction and suggests a strategy aligned with the Trump administration's policies encouraging developers to self-fund power generation and prevent consumer cost increases.