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Sherrod Brown, the former Democratic U.S. Senator attempting to reclaim an Ohio Senate seat, is running against data center expansion despite previously celebrating their arrival in the state. A 2015 press release from Brown praised Amazon’s construction of a third data center in central Ohio as “great news for New Albany and central Ohio,” noting the company’s growth demonstrated the region’s appeal for business and residents.
Today, Brown characterizes Ohio’s 226 data centers as wasteful drains on state resources and electricity supplies. His recent campaign messaging accuses major corporations of exploiting the electric grid to power data centers while driving up energy costs for ordinary Ohioans. The shift reflects a broader Democratic strategy linking data center expansion to concerns about affordability in food, fuel, and housing ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Brown lost his previous Senate seat in 2024 to Republican Bernie Moreno. He now faces incumbent Jon Husted, who was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the seat vacated when J.D. Vance became vice president under Donald Trump. The general election is scheduled for November 3.
Brown has pledged to require data centers to cover their complete electricity costs rather than passing expenses to consumers. Ohio has become a major data center hub after the state legislature approved tax exemptions for computer equipment in 2013, a benefit that cost the state $1.6 billion in forgone revenue in 2025. Brown’s campaign has not clarified whether he would pursue additional measures beyond electricity cost requirements to limit data center development.
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