As voters participate in this year’s midterm elections, attention turns to the influx of political donations from the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector. This new wave of funding raises concerns about its potential effects on voter perceptions of candidates, though its influence at the polls remains unclear.
For decades, corporate donations have been a staple of American elections. Now, the growth of AI technology and the rapid establishment of data centers nationwide have brought the industry’s political spending into focus. Candidates in significant races face inquiries about whether financial backing from AI-related sources might affect their stance on issues like electricity costs, tax incentives, and local data center project approvals.
“Data-center backed candidates may face some backlash by their political association,” explained Cayce Myers, a professor at Virginia Tech. “It’s difficult to say that candidates who accept this money will have definitive backlash, but there are some voters where this is the single issue affecting their decision. In tight races, a few votes can determine the outcome.”
Midterm Races Highlighting AI Donations
Several races have drawn attention for campaign donations linked to AI-affiliated groups as Election Day approaches on November 3. In Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott is running against Democratic State Representative Gina Hinojosa. According to the Texas Tribune, Abbott has received millions from data center-related donors, despite halting new data center approvals until state officials audit projects aiming to connect with the state’s electric grid.
In Ohio, a contentious Senate race between Republican Senator Jon Husted and Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown has seen allegations over AI-related donations. Fox News reported that Brown’s campaign finance records show he received $20,000 from a Google corporate political action committee throughout his career. Meanwhile, American Journal News indicated that Husted has received over $630,000 from organizations linked to data centers over the past 20 years.
Campaign donations are significantly lower this election cycle. This year, Husted’s campaign received $11,000 from AI-related companies, including contributions from Google, Amazon, and Anthropic. Since May 2025, contributions rose to $22,000, including donations from Microsoft and Oracle, according to Federal Election Commission records. These PACs did not donate to Brown’s campaign.
A representative for Husted’s campaign told Newsweek, “Senator Husted believes data centers should remain a local decision where communities support their priorities. If a community opts to build a data center, they should not bear the infrastructure costs.”
The campaign spokesperson mentioned Husted’s Ratepayer Protection Act, which mandates companies pay for their power infrastructure. The House passed it with strong support, but Senate Democrats blocked it due to political reasons.
Meanwhile, a Brown campaign spokesperson stated, “Husted’s efforts to bring data centers to Ohio have resulted in increased electric bills for residents and substantial tax breaks for out-of-state corporations. Ohioans should decide if data centers are built locally and shouldn’t have to subsidize corporate electricity costs.”
The campaigns did not address Newsweek’s inquiries about assurances that contributions would not affect candidates’ decisions if elected.
AI’s Role in Voter Concerns
AI remains a significant topic for voters in Ohio and across the U.S. University of Akron’s David Cohen highlighted a recent BGSU/YouGov poll showing 19% of Ohioans consider AI and data centers important, though concerns over the economy and inflation dominate.
“Perception is reality in politics,” Cohen remarked. “If voters believe that candidates are too close to big tech, it does not matter what the actual reality is.”
AI and data center discussions are prominent, but issues like increasing utility costs and affordability are more immediate concerns for voters, according to Myers.
Myers noted, “There is a sense that subsidization of big tech and rising costs of utilities impact voters. Data centers and tech regulation remain fluid politically, with both parties critiquing these businesses and their incentives.”
The growing skepticism regarding corporate influence in elections is evident. Financial connections between political figures and corporate donors provide fodder for political attacks, pitting big tech against everyday voters.
Newsweek’s editorial team used the Martyn AI assistant to produce this story. Contact editors Jenna deJong and Dave Siminoff for more information.