NEW REPORT: Jon Husted Took A ‘Leading Role’ In Attracting Data Centers To Ohio

NEW REPORT: Jon Husted Took A 'Leading Role' In Attracting Data Centers To Ohio

July 29, 2026

COLUMBUS, OHIO - New reporting from Spectrum News shows that Jon Husted led the charge to bring a record number of "power-hungry" data centers to Ohio that have sent utility rates skyrocketing. Now, three months before an election, Husted is pretending he cares about protecting families from higher electricity bills.

WATCH:

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

"Jon Husted is shamelessly running away from his record of jacking up Ohioans' utility rates and delivering billions in sweetheart tax deals to out-of-state corporations building data centers in the state. It won't work because Ohioans know the truth, and they will hold him accountable in November."

See for yourself:

Spectrum News: As voters turn on data centers, Husted pushes new ratepayer protections

• After taking a leading role in trying to attract data centers to Ohio, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has introduced legislation to protect ratepayers from the higher electric rates that data centers can cause.

• As Ohio's Lieutenant Gov. from 2019 to 2025, Husted had championed new data centers to power artificial intelligence.

• In 2019, for example, he pushed for a deal giving Google $43.5 million in state tax incentives and a 15-year abatement on local property taxes in exchange for the tech company building a $600 million data center in central Ohio.

• At the time Husted argued the economic returns would outweigh the cost, writing in a statement: "Ohio is establishing itself as a premier destination for technology investment, and it further strengthens our case that Ohio is becoming the tech capital of the Midwest."

• Ohio currently has 240 data centers, tying with Illinois for the fifth most in the country.

• However, that growth has come with a cost. Data centers have contributed to a 175% increase in Ohio's residential electricity rates since 2005, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, rising about 1.8 times faster than the national rate and 2.5 times faster than inflation.

• Widespread anger over soaring electric bills has fueled a backlash to Ohio's data center boom.

Read more about how Jon Husted led the charge to bring data centers to Ohio:

• Jon Husted played such a large role in bringing data centers to Ohio, the editor of Cleveland.com referred to Husted as "the face of data centers."

• When he was Lt. Governor, Husted led the charge to give billions in out-of-control tax breaks to out-of-state corporations building data centers in Ohio.

• Because of Husted's efforts, Ohioans have seen their utility bills skyrocket, with Ohio seeing the second largest utility rate increase in the country over the last year.

• According to the Plain Dealer, Husted was "a data center's best friend" and "spent years rolling out the red carpet" for these massive corporations to come to Ohio.

• Now, three months away from an election, Husted is "suddenly positioning himself as the guy who's going to rein them in."

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