Data Centers and Rising Utility Bills Sink Husted in Ohio Senate Race

Sherrod Brown is back. The former senator reclaimed his Ohio seat by defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted, according to the New York Post ^[1]. With 85% of votes counted, Brown led Husted 48.4% to 46.7%, the Associated Press reported.

The victory marks a stunning reversal for Brown, who lost his reelection bid by four points in 2024. CBS News projects that Brown flipped the seat for Democrats, ending two years of Republican control ^[3]. The race was a special election to fill the remaining two years of the term JD Vance won in 2022, before he became vice president, as The Guardian noted ^[2].

Brown campaigned on lowering the cost of living and railing against Trump’s policies, including the war with Iran and high utility bills driven by AI data centers. He labeled Husted "the face of datacenters," arguing the industry harmed working-class communities, CBS News reported ^[3]. Brown also highlighted Husted’s closeness to billionaires like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, who poured hundreds of millions into the race, the New York Post noted ^[1].

Former President Barack Obama joined the campaign trail, praising Brown’s frugality and noting he was "still wearing the same suit he was in when I met him 20 years ago," according to the New York Post ^[1]. Meanwhile, President Trump aggressively campaigned for Husted, claiming he "saved his a–" and comparing Husted’s physique to steel, the New York Post reported.

Despite Trump’s efforts and $270 million in outside spending, the seat flipped. The Guardian reported that Brown’s win brings Democrats closer to regaining Senate control, though they still need to win Georgia, New Hampshire, and Minnesota ^[2]. This is the first successful Senate comeback since 1988, CBS News noted ^[3].

The loss is a significant setback for Vice President JD Vance, who represents Ohio and had admitted he had "ownership" of the state, according to the New York Post ^[1]. Vance had campaigned hard for Husted, but Ohio’s shift away from Trump’s brand of politics, fueled by dissatisfaction with the Iran war and rising prices, proved decisive, CBS News reported ^[3].