Senate Race in Ohio, AI Data Centers Spark Controversy Amid Political Divide
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In the NRSC's memo, the committee wrote that data centers have become a fixture of the contentious Senate race in Ohio, where Democratic candidate and former Sen. Sherrod Brown has made his opposition to them a "centerpiece" of his campaign against Republican incumbent Jon Husted.
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Washington Times BusinessIt’s not the kind of message anyone is using in competitive midterm races. The race to build data centers, which power artificial intelligence and cloud computing, has run aground amid frustration from voters who don’t want to live near the massive warehouse campuses. Even the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm warned that anger over data centers - some of which dwarf football stadiums and use more energy than small cities - could cost them a seat.
FortuneIt’s not the kind of message anyone is using in competitive midterm races. The race to build data centers, which power artificial intelligence and cloud computing, has run aground amid frustration from voters who don’t want to live near the massive warehouse campuses. Even the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm warned that anger over data centers — some of which dwarf football stadiums and use more energy than small cities — could cost them a seat.
Common Dreams"If voters' perceptions of data centers are not fixed quickly," the memo cautions, "the campaign against them will expand far beyond Ohio."
New York Post BusinessSouring public opinion on data centers could play a critical role in midterm elections across the country. Getty Images
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President Donald Trump on Wednesday insisted that Americans should welcome artificial intelligence data centers in their communities, despite polls showing widespread opposition to their construction across the US, as well as mounting evidence of their negative impacts on the environment, public health, and Americans' utility bills.
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FortuneTrump has framed data centers as a necessary component of a top national and economic security priority: winning the AI race against China. However, he also has acknowledged concern over rising electricity bills, previously saying “it’s only fair” for the companies to shoulder their costs.
Washington Times BusinessTrump has framed data centers as a necessary component of a top national and economic security priority: winning the AI race against China. However, he also has acknowledged concern over rising electricity bills, previously saying “it’s only fair” for the companies to shoulder their costs.
CNBCPresident Trump weighed in on Wednesday, acknowledging that while data centers "can use a little public relations help," communities should welcome them.
New York Post BusinessSocial media users who oppose data centers have cited environmental issues, noise and light pollution and economic concerns, like the potential for the new tech to eradicate many jobs.
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In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is eyeing a potential 2028 presidential bid, signed an executive order on Tuesday placing harsh standards on data center development in his state.
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New York Post BusinessPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, recently signed an executive order restricting data center development in the state, taking a stand against what he called “predatory” developers.
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In Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has championed data centers in the past, the mood has changed decisively. Abbott is now racing to put standards on data centers in his state, as Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa rips him for his initial support of the facilities.
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FortuneTexas’ governor changed course and got a jab from Trump Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who last November celebrated Google’s announcement of a $40 billion investment there by calling the state “the epicenter of AI development,” is under attack from his Democratic challenger, Gina Hinojosa, over his pursuit of data center development.
Washington Times BusinessTexas’ governor changed course and got a jab from Trump Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who last November celebrated Google’s announcement of a $40 billion investment there by calling the state “the epicenter of AI development,” is under attack from his Democratic challenger, Gina Hinojosa, over his pursuit of data center development.
New York Post BusinessTexas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, issued a pause on data center approvals and created a set of standards that several companies agreed to follow regarding water and electricity use and quality-of-life for nearby residents.
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Lawmakers are unmoved. In July, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order establishing the nation's first year-long moratorium on large data centers, effectively pausing the development of new facilities in the state. Hochul said she'll use that time to develop a regulatory framework that better protects the environment, ratepayers, the energy grid and communities in New York.
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New York Post BusinessIn New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul in July issued a first-of-its-kind moratorium on large-scale data center construction – though it has drawn backlash from AI supporters who warn the ban could quash construction jobs. Other critics fear the regulation isn’t strict enough.
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Odd Lots: What AI Got Wrong About the Public Backlash (Podcast) Within the AI industry, even the builders of it have been very anxious about the technology. They’ve talked for years about its potential to create destabilizing job losses. They even spend a lot of time thinking about rogue AI that could lead to human extinction. But for all their anxiety, they missed the thing that’s become the most publicly salient: how upset people would be about building data centers. Part of this was understandable. Data center construction has been happening for a long ti
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In a statement, Ford said Trump and Lombardo are “Nevada data centers’ biggest cheerleaders” who “only care about catering to their ‘billionaire friends’ while Nevadans pay the price.”
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Washington Times BusinessIn a statement, Ford said Trump and Lombardo are “Nevada data centers’ biggest cheerleaders” who “only care about catering to their ‘billionaire friends’ while Nevadans pay the price.”
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A separate Axios report published Wednesday described AI CEOs being in "full panic mode" over the backlash to data centers. What's more, reported Axios, tech insiders privately acknowledge that "they can't find a compelling message to shift opinion fast enough" ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
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FortuneAxios calls it “the new existential threat to AI,” reporting that Republicans and AI CEOs are in “full panic mode” watching politicians awaken to the appeal of data-center opposition. If the pipeline of new data centers slows, computing power will be constrained, and investors will (further) question whether the market has legs.
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President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered support for a stalled bill that’s aiming to establish a clearer regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, with his remarks coming at a White House event featuring key players in the crypto industry.
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Washington Times BusinessPresident Trump hosted cryptocurrency executives at the White House on Wednesday, one day after U.S. financial regulators unveiled crypto regulations.
7 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 CNBC She was recently put on a project with an artificial intelligence expert who started using AI agents to manage his inbox. But in the course of their partnership, the bots began filtering out important emails and texts, leading to delays delivering on promises to their client and no other way to reach him, the project director tells CNBC Make It.
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02 Fortune President Donald Trump, speaking alongside cryptocurrency leaders at the White House this week, made a statement that Republican and Democratic candidates alike wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole.
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03 Washington Times Business WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, speaking alongside cryptocurrency leaders at the White House this week, made a statement that Republican and Democratic candidates alike wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole.
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04 Financial Times The slow sucking sound of AI Searching for signs of crowding out
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05 Common Dreams No Bending the Knee Here Like every authoritarian before him, Trump is working to co-opt news sources and control what the public sees and hears. Too many corporate outlets are bending the knee—but not Common Dreams. We will never be intimidated, and we will never compromise the core values that define our community: social justice, universal human rights, equality, and peace. Because we are funded by ordinary people like you, our editorial freedom is guaranteed.
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06 New York Post Business In January, people who said they voted for Democratic Kamala Harris for president in 2024 were split on the issue, with 36% saying they would support a data center being built within three miles of their home and 33% saying they would not.
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07 MarketWatch Washington Watch Trump calls for passage of a key cryptocurrency bill as it falters in the Senate: ‘We need Congress to take the next step’
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