Ohioans are mixed on whether to ban data centers, according to a new poll, but most agree on one thing: no tax breaks for tech companies.
A Suffolk University/USA TODAY Ohio Network poll found 72% of likely voters oppose tax incentives for new data centers. The aversion to more incentives spanned party lines, with 52% of Republicans, 92% of Democrats and 76% of independents opposing them.
The findings come as data centers dominate Ohio's races for governor and U.S. Senate, forcing candidates to outline their plans for regulating facilities that exploded with the rise of artificial intelligence. The Buckeye State is home to 240 existing or in-development data centers, the sixth-highest number in the country, according to Data Center Map.
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While data centers prove unpopular at local government meetings, less than half of voters want to get rid of them altogether. In the Suffolk poll, 39% of respondents supported a ban compared to 45% who didn't. Advocates are currently gathering signatures for a constitutional amendment that would block most new data center construction.
The poll also found that 41% of people believe data centers are essential to the technology they use − and 41% felt the complete opposite.
"Ohio has more than its fair share of data centers already and I know popular opinion is nobody wants them in their back yard or near their house," said 62-year-old Scott Thomas, a Canton-area resident who responded to the poll. "I would prefer that they don’t have any more in Ohio, so I would not incentivize that."
Data centers dominate Ohio election cycle
Data centers flew under the radar for years. Elected officials championed investments in Ohio by companies like Amazon and Google. But they've proliferated in recent years to accommodate a surge in demand for digital infrastructure driven by AI.
Now, critics worry data centers consume too much power and water, increase electric bills and harm the environment. Ohio also faced blowback for doling out $1.6 billion in sales tax breaks last year, in addition to property tax abatements often awarded by local governments.
Pro-AI groups recently launched campaigns in Ohio to counter what they perceive as misinformation about data centers. But the issue has already been dominating the 2026 election cycle.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy pledged to end property tax breaks for data centers and require companies to pay neighboring Ohioans for their electric costs. His opponent, Democrat Amy Acton, said she'd block data centers unless they cover their utilities, use 100% union labor and build on brownfields.
In the Senate race, Republican Sen. Jon Husted is fielding attacks over his support for data center projects as Ohio's lieutenant governor. He has faced attack ads from former Sen. Sherrod Brown that call Husted the "face of data centers."
Husted is now pushing for legislation that would require states to consider making data centers pay for their power.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the bill "toothless," noting it doesn't force states to enact any policy changes, NBC News reported. Senate Democrats blocked the bill from moving forward Sept. 30.
"America is an innovative country, Husted said on the Senate floor. "We must remain an innovative country and lead the world in superintelligence and build the infrastructure we need for the future without asking families, seniors and small businesses to pick up the tab."
Columbus Dispatch reporter Jordan Laird contributed to this report.
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@usatodayco.com or @haleybemiller on X.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Most Ohioans oppose tax breaks for data centers, poll finds
