Sherrod Brown Targets Data Center Tax Breaks in Ohio Senate Race

Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown has made the proliferation of data centers a central theme in his campaign to return to the U.S. Senate in Ohio. Brown argues that these facilities consume excessive land and water while driving up electricity prices for residents, framing the development as part of a rigged system.

Brown specifically targets incumbent Senator Jon Husted, labeling him the face of data centers. This criticism stems from Husted's tenure as lieutenant governor, during which Ohio provided $2.5 billion in tax breaks for the facilities. While some building trade unions benefit from the construction, Brown maintains that workers are primarily concerned with energy costs and a lack of local control.

Husted's campaign denies the claims, asserting that he lacked the authority to grant the tax breaks and accusing Brown of playing politics by blocking the Ratepayer Protection Act. Despite the denial, the National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a memo warning that data centers could be a political liability for Husted. Recent polling indicates voters view Brown as more capable of managing data center development, though the overall race remains tight.