Data centers emerge as hot issue in midterm elections
Data center development has become a major issue in several competitive 2026 midterm races, particularly the Ohio Senate contest between Republican Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown. Opposition has grown as voters express concerns about local development, while supporters including President Donald Trump argue that data centers and the artificial intelligence industry bring economic benefits and strategic advantages.
Data center construction is emerging as a significant campaign issue ahead of the midterm elections, with voters in several states weighing concerns about local projects and their effects on communities. The Ohio Senate race between incumbent Republican Jon Husted and former Sen. Sherrod Brown has become a focal point because Ohio has more than 200 data centers. Brown has criticized Husted over his support for development, while Husted has argued that local officials and residents should decide whether projects are built.
President Donald Trump, campaigning alongside Husted, defended data centers and the artificial intelligence industry as sources of economic growth and national competitiveness. In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has tightened rules governing data center energy use and community approval, while Republican challenger Stacy Garrity has called for pausing development amid public backlash. More than 30 jurisdictions, most of them in Ohio, are expected to consider ballot measures limiting or banning local data center construction.