Ohio Has Half of US Data Center Ballot Measures in Midterms
Ohio voters will decide 21 data center measures, over half the U.S. total, as the issue shapes key midterm races.
Ohio leads the nation with 21 of the 39 data center-related ballot measures set to be decided by voters in eight states during the 2026 midterm elections. These measures cover various jurisdictions across Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, California, Michigan, Nevada, and Florida. Ohioans will face proposals for outright prohibitions on large data centers, zoning referendums, financial-guarantee requirements, and voter approval before developments proceed.
The measures reveal significant concerns about the speed and scale of data center development. Ohio's special Senate race between Republican Jon Husted and former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has been influenced by the issue, with Husted favoring accelerated AI infrastructure development and Brown advocating for corporate accountability and consumer affordability.
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