Seth Walsh Slams Jay Edwards In New Op-Ed: “Ohioans Are Paying Higher Energy Rates Because Of His Failed Leadership”

Seth Walsh Slams Jay Edwards In New Op-Ed: "Ohioans Are Paying Higher Energy Rates Because Of His Failed Leadership"

September 1, 2026

COLUMBUS, OH - In a new opinion piece, candidate for Ohio Treasurer Seth Walsh is making clear that as Ohio Republicans lay out the red carpet for the data centers that drive up electricity bills, he is running to defend Ohio families from the harmful deals that threaten our communities and raise costs for Ohioans. In his new op-ed in the Newark Advocate, Walsh slams Republican candidate for Treasurer Jay Edwards for backing policies that eliminate corporate taxes for data centers as Ohioans' energy bills continue to skyrocket. While Edwards has "supported data center projects and defended using state dollars to incentivize them," Walsh has "been outspoken against the special treatment Ohio has given data centers" and pledges to "demand strong protections for ratepayers" as Ohio's next Treasurer.

This isn't the first time that Jay Edwards has gotten cozy with corporations lining their pockets. Edwards voted for the FirstEnergy bailout, House Bill 6 and was included in reporting from the FirstEnergy trial. As Jay Edwards continues to fight for corporations and raise Ohioans' costs, read more from Seth Walsh on how he will fight for Ohio families as Treasurer:

Newark Advocate: State treasurer candidate says Ohio can be pro-business without data center sellouts

• As I campaign across Ohio to become the state's next treasurer, residents everywhere are angry that our statewide elected leaders have sold out our state to multinational data center companies. And they should be.
• My opponent in the race for Ohio Treasurer was a central figure in the $1.3 billion FirstEnergy bailout, and what became the largest corruption scandal in Ohio's history. Every month, Ohioans are paying higher energy rates because of his failed leadership. On the campaign trail, he's supported data center projects and defended using state dollars to incentivize them.
• We can be pro-business growth in Ohio without writing blank checks to out-of-state tech companies. That's my record in Cincinnati, and that's what I'll do as Treasurer of Ohio.
  

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