Leaked memo about data centers shows GOP worried about Ohio’s U.S. Senate race
A leaked memo from the GOP Senate Campaign Committee reveals concerns that the negative sentiment around data centers in Ohio could jeopardize the US Senate race. Senator John Husted's support for data centers is seen as a liability against challenger Sherrod Brown. The memo, sent to tech companies, seeks help to improve the industry's image to prevent future policy shifts against data centers beyond Ohio.
A leaked internal memo from the GOP Senate Campaign Committee indicates significant concern over the upcoming U.S. Senate race in Ohio, identifying data centers as a potential "downfall" for Republican candidates. The document, obtained by News 5 Cleveland, suggests that the race between Republican U.S. Senator John Husted and challenger Sherrod Brown is "in a dead heat," with data centers emerging as a critical "sleeper issue."
The memo explicitly states that data centers are "the anchor hanging around Husted's neck" due to his strong support for bringing numerous data center projects to Ohio. While Senator Husted did not comment directly on the leaked memo, he previously acknowledged the need for data centers to be "more responsible." Conversely, Sherrod Brown is reportedly leveraging the "overwhelmingly negative sentiment" surrounding data centers in Ohio to his advantage.
The memo, reportedly distributed to various tech companies, seeks assistance in addressing the "toxic brand" image of the data center industry, warning that political campaigns alone cannot rectify the perception. It further emphasizes that the outcome of Ohio's election could significantly influence future data center policy nationwide, stating that if public perception is not swiftly improved, the "campaign against them will expand far beyond Ohio." Democrats are already utilizing the leaked memo for fundraising efforts.