Ohio Gubernatorial Candidates Both Invest in Data Centers They Want to Regulate
Ohio gubernatorial candidates, Venkata Ramaswamy and Dr. Amy Acton, both express support for a moratorium on data center developments. However, investigations reveal both candidates have financial investments in companies connected to the data center industry, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Ohio's leading gubernatorial candidates, Republican Venkata Ramaswamy and Dr. Amy Acton, both expressed support for a pause on new data center developments across the state during their campaigns. However, a report from the Columbus bureau revealed that both candidates maintain significant financial investments in companies tied to the data center industry.
Republican Venkata Ramaswamy's financial disclosures indicate holdings in over a dozen entities affiliated with data centers, including a major AI chip maker and Microsoft, a prominent data center operator. Lakew Raeder, a concerned citizen, voiced apprehension regarding a potential conflict of interest, given that a governor can appoint leaders to regulatory agencies overseeing the tech sector. Ramaswamy declined to comment directly on the investments for this story but had previously articulated a policy stance that data centers should either reduce electricity consumption or compensate communities for their impact.
Similarly, Dr. Amy Acton's financial report shows stock in Iron Mountain, a company that operates a data center near Dayton. When questioned about divesting their data center-related investments if elected governor, neither candidate offered a definitive response. The report underscores a debate about the transparency and potential conflicts of interest for political figures advocating for regulations on an industry in which they hold financial stakes.