Husted took $630K from data center interests
U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R-OH) has accepted over $630,000 from data center interests, aligning with his history of championing tax incentives for data center development in Ohio and at the federal level. This comes amidst strong public opposition to data centers due to their high electricity and water usage, making data center policy a key issue in his re-election campaign as Democrats push to repeal such incentives.
The American Journal News reports that U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R-OH) has accumulated more than $630,000 in donations from data center proponents over the past two decades. This financial backing is linked to his consistent advocacy for expanding data center operations in Ohio and nationally, despite public concerns.
During his tenure as Ohio's lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2025, Husted was instrumental in promoting AI use within state and local governments, fostering Ohio's growth as an AI industry hub and accelerating data center construction. He championed a state sales tax exemption for data centers, which benefited projects like Google's facility in New Albany. Federally, Husted supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), which significantly increased tax incentives for data centers.
However, data centers are criticized for their substantial electricity and water consumption, which critics attribute to rising utility costs. A recent New York Times/Siena poll revealed that 61% of Americans oppose data center construction in their communities, making data center policy a contentious issue in the upcoming elections. Husted's Democratic opponent, former Senator Sherrod Brown, has publicly attacked Husted's record and supports legislation requiring data centers to pay the full cost of their utilities, while House and Senate Democrats are pushing to repeal existing federal incentives.