The National Republican Senatorial Committee has privately urged major AI companies to address growing public opposition to data centers, warning that the issue could affect Republican Sen. Jon Husted’s Ohio reelection campaign and future projects nationwide. A memo titled “Ohio Data Center Risk” calls on companies to explain who benefits from data centers, who pays for them and why communities should want them. Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is eight points ahead of Husted, according to the reported campaign polling, after spending millions to portray Husted as “the face of data centers in Ohio.” The NRSC said data centers are “the anchor hanging around Husted’s neck” and warned that a loss blamed on the facilities could deter politicians in other states from supporting new projects. Ohio has one of the largest shares of completed U.S. data-center projects, with dozens more planned. Reuters reported in 2026 that 77% of 4,531 poll respondents were concerned AI development could raise electricity bills; 64% opposed rapid AI data-center construction and 33% supported it. The United States has about 4,000 operating data centers and nearly 3,000 more in planning, while concerns have grown over their energy consumption and AI’s potential effects on jobs.