Derek Merrin Hides From His Record of Giving Tax Breaks to Data Centers
October 2, 2026
COLUMBUS, OH – As Ohioans call out Ohio Republicans for inviting data centers into their backyards and raising electricity bills for Ohio families, Derek Merrin is refusing to answer for his record of voting to expand tax breaks for data centers. As data centers drive up utility costs for Ohioans in every corner of the state, Derek Merrin’s strategy is to hide from voters’ questions and refuse to take accountability for raising prices for Ohioans.
“Derek Merrin is running from his record on data centers because he knows he’s responsible for raising utility costs for Ohioans across the state,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson Abby Hasselbrink. “Despite his pathetic attempts to dodge Ohioans’ most pressing questions, Derek Merrin can’t hide from his record of voting for tax breaks for data centers and driving up Ohioans’ electricity bills. Ohioans know that Marcy Kaptur is the only person in this race that they can trust to hold data centers and corporate special interests accountable and lower costs for Ohio families.”
While Marcy Kaptur is running to hold data centers accountable for raising utility bills and stripping Ohio communities of water and power, read more about how Derek Merrin is repeatedly refusing to answer for his record of sending Ohioans’ electricity costs soaring:
The Toledo Blade: Data centers emerge as campaign issue in races around Ohio
“Former Republican state Rep. Derek Merrin faces Ms. Kaptur in a competitive race. A spokesman for his campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding what role, if any, the federal government should play in regulating the construction of hyperscale data centers.”
The Ohio Independent: House candidate Derek Merrin reports capital gains of at least $1,200 on Nvidia stock
“Merrin reported capital gains income between $1,001 and $2,500 from “Nvida” stock options, apparently a typo. Merrin also reported capital gains between $201 and $1,000 on Nvidia Corporation common stock. Merrin’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.”
Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio’s 9th Congressional district race: The candidates’ records on data centers
“Merrin, who served four terms as an Ohio state representative for the Toledo district from 2016 to 2024, did not respond to the Ohio Capital Journal’s questions for this story. Merrin received a $1,000 political donation from the American Electric Power Ohio Committee for Responsible Government in 2021. AEP had received more than $6 million in data center tax breaks in Ohio as of September 2024, according to Policy Matters Ohio. Merrin received a $500 political donation from Windstream Holdings’ PAC in 2022. That same year, Windstream Holdings listed eight ‘key data center locations’ in Ohio.”
Tiffin Ohio: Derek Merrin voted to widen data center tax breaks, then took cash from companies tied to the boom
“Derek Merrin voted to widen Ohio’s data center tax break in 2017. In the years that followed, the money came back to him from companies collecting it… Merrin did not respond to the Capital Journal’s questions for its Aug. 10 story on the race. A local outlet covering his primary win noted he had not answered a single question or responded to a single inquiry during the campaign.”
Reuters: Democrats try to ride data center backlash to election victory in rural US Midwest
“In a statement, Kaptur linked data centers to rising utility costs and wider concerns about corporate influence. ‘Politicians are letting these companies pass the costs of their enormous energy and utility demands onto Ohio ratepayers, then handing them billions in tax breaks to sweeten the deal,’ she said. Residential electricity bills in Defiance rose 10% to 15% in June from a year earlier, according to utility FirstEnergy. Merrin did not respond to requests for comment.”
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