Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost his re-election bid in 2024 to Republican Bernie Moreno, is now mounting a comeback campaign for Ohio's other Senate seat with an issue that represents a notable shift from his previous stance: data centers.
Brown served three terms in the Senate before his defeat last cycle. He was appointed to the seat originally held by J.D. Vance after Vance became vice president under President Donald Trump, with Gov. Mike DeWine appointing Jon Husted to fill it. Brown now faces Husted in the November general election as he seeks a return to the chamber.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans and business advocates counter that data centers bring substantial investment, high-quality employment opportunities, and tax revenue to Ohio. They argue that restricting development could drive companies to competitor states offering more favorable conditions.
In his 2015 press release celebrating Amazon's construction of a third data center in Central Ohio, Brown himself highlighted the economic benefits at the time.
"This new data center is great news for New Albany and central Ohio. Amazon's growth in central Ohio signals that this region is not only a great place to do business, but a place where people want to live and raise a family," Brown wrote.
Ohio Republican Party officials have pointed to the apparent contradiction between Brown's current stance and his earlier enthusiasm for data center expansion, suggesting voters should weigh whether he has changed principles or simply changed positions based on political convenience.
Husted's campaign has emphasized economic growth and job creation associated with tech infrastructure investment in Ohio, positioning the incumbent as supportive of development that brings capital into the state.
What the Left Is Saying
Brown and his allies argue that large data centers operated by companies like Amazon and Google are placing an unsustainable burden on Ohio's electrical grid, driving up costs for residential consumers. In campaign materials, Brown has framed the issue as one of fairness and corporate accountability.
"Ohio's electric grid — big corporations treat it like a game," Brown said in a recent campaign video. "[They're] gobbling up energy to feed their data centers no matter how much it raises our prices."
Brown has pledged to support legislation requiring data center operators to pay the full cost of their electricity consumption rather than passing those costs onto ordinary residents.
"I'll require the data centers to pay the full cost of their own electricity — not you," Brown said in campaign remarks.
Democrats across the country have increasingly tied data center expansion to kitchen-table economic concerns, arguing that corporate infrastructure projects are subsidized by local communities that must absorb increased utility demands without commensurate benefits.
What the Numbers Show
Ohio approved significant tax incentives for data center construction starting in 2013, when the state legislature passed exemptions for computer data center equipment. Under the program, companies investing more than $100 million over three consecutive years can receive tax benefits from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority.
According to the Ohio 2026-2027 Tax Expenditure Report, these incentives cost the state an estimated $1.6 billion in forgone revenue in fiscal year 2025 alone.
Ohio is home to approximately 226 data centers as of this reporting period, according to Brown's own campaign materials citing state figures. Major tech companies including Amazon and Google have sought out Ohio locations for such facilities.
The 2013 tax exemption law does not automatically qualify all data centers — the Tax Credit Authority must approve applications, and some facilities receive partial exemptions rather than full benefits.
Polling on voter attitudes toward data center development varies by region and community, with rural areas sometimes expressing more concern about land use while urban-adjacent communities focus on infrastructure strain. Specific Ohio polling on this issue was not included in the source materials reviewed for this article.
The Bottom Line
The Senate race in Ohio represents a key battleground in the 2026 midterm elections, with control of the chamber potentially hanging on outcomes in competitive states like Ohio. Brown is seeking to return to the Senate after losing his seat just two years ago, while Husted has not yet won a full term in office.
Brown's flip on data centers reflects a broader Democratic strategy of connecting large-scale corporate infrastructure projects to everyday costs facing American families. Whether voters view this as principled evolution or political opportunism may well determine the outcome of the race.
The November 3 general election will determine whether Brown can complete his political comeback or whether Husted will earn his first full Senate term. Both candidates are expected to continue discussing data center policy in the weeks ahead.