Ohio House - District 52
Candidates Mike Baker and Cliff Winkel discussed data center policy in the Ohio House District 52 voter guide. Baker supported responsible growth with companies paying for infrastructure and protecting resources, while Winkel emphasized local control and safeguards for power and water costs and quality.
Mike Baker, a Democratic candidate from Elyria, and Cliff Winkel, a Republican candidate from North Ridgeville, are competing for the Ohio House District 52 seat. In Ideastream Public Media's 2026 voter guide, both responded to questions about data centers, which voters identified as one of the district's top issues alongside education and the cost of living.
Baker said Ohio should support responsible data center growth without placing infrastructure costs on taxpayers. He called for companies to pay for required upgrades, protect water and natural resources, and provide meaningful community benefits. Winkel said communities should retain control over whether to approve data centers, while the state could establish safeguards ensuring projects do not raise local power costs or affect the availability or quality of electricity and water.