The GOP Is Warning AI Companies Over Data Center Backlash. The Ohio Senate Race Could Be A Test.

Republicans are warning major AI companies that growing public opposition to data centers could hurt the party in a key Ohio Senate race and make politicians across the country more reluctant to support future projects.

The warning comes as data center construction expands across the U.S. to meet rising computing demand. The projects have faced opposition in some communities over their electricity and water use, potential effects on utility bills and the number of permanent jobs they create.

Those concerns have become an issue in Ohio, where Republican Sen. Jon Husted is facing former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in one of this year's closely watched Senate contests.

Axios reported Wednesday that the National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a private memo to leading AI companies warning that Democrats have made data centers a major part of their campaign against Husted.

"If he loses and data centers get the blame, politicians across the country will take notice — and they will not go near the next one," the NRSC said in the memo obtained by Axios.

The committee described data centers as a "sleeper issue" in the 2026 election and called on AI companies to do more to explain the costs and benefits of projects to local communities.

The number of facilities continues to grow. More than 4,000 data centers are operating across the U.S., with over 3,000 additional facilities proposed or under development, according to the outlet.

Ohio has become an important market for new projects. OpenAI announced this week that it had reached an agreement to secure approximately 8 gigawatts of IT capacity at the PORTS-Pike Technology Campus in Pike County, Ohio. The project involves SB Energy, Nvidia and the U.S. Department of Energy. OpenAI said it intends to cover project-specific energy and infrastructure costs and make long-term investments in the local community.

Nvidia separately said SB Energy will build, own and operate the data center under a 20-year lease to OpenAI, with the site exclusively hosting Nvidia computing systems.

Other companies with data center projects in Ohio include Meta, Vantage Data Centers and QTS.

The projects have become part of the Senate campaign between Husted and Brown.

Brown has spent millions of dollars on advertising describing Husted as "the face of data centers in Ohio," according to Axios. The NRSC memo said Brown has effectively turned data centers themselves into his opponent.

Polling has shown substantial opposition to the facilities among Ohio voters.

A Fox News poll found 65% of registered voters in Ohio opposed having an AI data center built in their area, compared with 32% who supported one. Opposition crossed party lines, including 72% of Democrats, 64% of independents and 59% of Republicans.

The same poll found Brown leading Husted 53% to 45%. It was conducted from May 28 through June 1 among 1,015 registered Ohio voters and had a margin of sampling error of three percentage points.

Opposition is not limited to Ohio. A separate nationwide Fox News survey conducted in July found 70% of registered voters opposed construction of an AI data center in their area, while 30% supported it.

The concerns have also started influencing policy decisions. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday signed an executive order placing new requirements on data center development in the state.

Under the order, Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection will review permit applications only when developers have secured local approval and made legally binding commitments to meet the state's Responsible Infrastructure Development requirements. The administration said the rules are intended to address issues including energy costs, noise and other effects on surrounding communities.

The political pressure presents a challenge for technology companies as they commit large amounts of money to expanding U.S. computing capacity.

AI developers require large data centers containing thousands of advanced chips to train and operate their systems. Those facilities also require substantial electricity generation, transmission infrastructure and cooling systems.

The NRSC memo argues that companies need to explain more clearly who benefits from the projects, how their costs will be covered and why communities should support them.

"Until that happens, the issue will continue to dominate this race," the memo said, according to Axios.

The Ohio contest could provide an early indication of how much influence the issue has with voters. Husted is defending the Senate seat he was appointed to after JD Vance became vice president, while Brown is seeking a return to the chamber after losing his Senate seat in 2024.

For the AI industry, the Republican warning extends beyond one election. The NRSC argues that if voters associate data centers with higher costs and limited local benefits, opposition could make approvals for future projects more difficult in other states.

"If voters' perceptions of data centers are not fixed quickly, the campaign against them will expand far beyond Ohio," the memo said.