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COLUMBUS, OHIO — As sweeping new tariffs take effect, threatening to send costs even higher for Ohio farmers, small businesses, and families, Jon Husted is nowhere to be found.  

Jon Husted has voted three separate times to block efforts to rein in the tariffs that are driving up costs and closing off markets. Husted has also repeatedly doubled down in support of the tariffs, arguing that critics “are wrong,” that they “haven’t affected the economy negatively,” and that “the policies are working.”

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Jon Husted is still backing the reckless tariffs that are driving up costs and crushing Ohio farmers and small businesses. Ohioans across the state are getting hit with higher prices, but they won’t get any help from Husted, who would rather lecture them than actually fight to lower costs.” 

Jon Husted’s tariffs are driving up costs for Ohio families, farmers, and small businesses:

• Jon Husted voted three separate times to block efforts reining in the reckless tariffs that are driving up costs.

• Husted dismissed the pain that Ohioans are feeling due to the tariffs, saying “you don’t hear from the ones that love it.”

• Husted has doubled down on his support for the reckless tariffs that are raising costs, saying that critics “are wrong,” they “haven’t affected the economy negatively,” and “the policies are working.”The Husted-backed tariffs are crushing Ohio family farms, threatening many with “risk of foreclosure and forced auction.”

• In 2025 alone, Ohio farmers saw a massive 74% loss in sales to China, while farm bankruptcies rose 46% nationwide. 

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Meanwhile, gas prices have skyrocketed again in Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo

COLUMBUS, OHIO — In a new interview with CNN this week, Jon Husted claimed he wants the Iran “war to end” and for “gas prices to come down.” However, Husted’s actions don’t match his words.

When given another opportunity to vote to end the war, Husted officially voted for the twelfth time to support the expensive and unnecessary conflict that has sent energy and food prices soaring for Ohioans. Nationally, gas prices reached an average of $4 a gallon after continued attacks in Iran. 

WATCH: 

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Jon Husted claims that he wants the Iran war to end, but just voted for the twelfth time to support the endless conflict in the Middle East. Gas prices are surging again thanks to the Husted-backed war in Iran, and Ohio families are once again being forced to pay the price.”

While Husted keeps voting to make everything more expensive, he also can’t help himself from insulting hardworking Ohioans struggling because of his votes:

• Husted claimed earlier this month that the military operation “went very well” while admitting the war he supported “has put a strain on Americans.”

• When asked recently if he was okay with not knowing how long the war will last or how much taxpayer dollars will be spent, Husted replied, “it’s not really up to us.”

• When asked what he was doing to address rising gas prices for his constituents, Husted responded: “What do you want me to do?” 

• When a truck driver asked about soaring diesel costs, Husted brushed him off and responded by asking if he was comfortable with Iran being a nuclear power. 

• Jon Husted has claimed that he thinks the war is “good news for the global economy” and going “much better than anyone thought it would.”

• Jon Husted continues to insult struggling Ohioans as “not very experienced at navigating the real world” and consistently dismisses the mounting affordability crisis by telling Ohioans to fix their “work ethic” and to simply “earn more” money to make ends meet.

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Husted was called “The Face Of Data Centers” and led the charge to hand out billions in tax breaks

COLUMBUS, OHIO — New reporting from the Plain Dealer perfectly sums up Jon Husted’s bill on data centers — after years of leading the charge to bring a record number of these “power-hungry” facilities to Ohio, Husted is now pretending he cares about protecting families from higher electricity bills.

According to the Plain Dealer, Husted was “a data center’s best friend” and “spent years rolling out the red carpet” for these massive corporations to come to Ohio. Now, three months away from an election, Husted is “suddenly positioning himself as the guy who’s going to rein them in.”

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Husted is shamelessly running away from his record of jacking up Ohioans’ utility rates and selling out Ohio to out of state corporations building data centers in the state. It won’t work because Ohioans know the truth, and they will hold him accountable in November.” 

Read more about how Jon Husted led the charge to bring data centers to Ohio: 

• Jon Husted played such a large role in bringing data centers to Ohio, the editor of Cleveland.com referred to Husted as “the face of data centers.”

• When he was Lt. Governor, Husted led the charge to give billions in out-of-control tax breaks to out of state corporations building data centers in Ohio. 

• Because of Husted’s efforts, Ohioans have seen their utility bills skyrocket, with Ohio seeing the second largest utility rate increase in the country over the last year.

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NBC 4 Columbus: Data centers cause Ohio’s energy demand to surpass supply

COLUMBUS, OHIO — New reporting from NBC 4 Columbus shows that the massive data center boom in Ohio, spearheaded by Jon Husted, has caused energy demand to outpace supply, sending utility rates skyrocketing for Ohio families.

Jon Husted, who has been called “the face of data centers” in Ohio, led the charge to bring a record number of facilities to the state, helping cut sweetheart tax deals and fast track approvals for corporations to build massive data centers. CNBC even called Ohio one of the “best positioned to land AI data center deals despite rising public opposition.” 

Thanks to Husted’s push to hand billions in tax breaks to attract data centers to Ohio, utility bills are skyrocketing for families — with Ohio seeing the second largest utility rate increase in the country over the last year.

Read more: 

NBC 4 Columbus: Data centers cause Ohio’s energy demand to surpass supply

• For the second year in a row, the organization that supplies Ohio with electricity was unable to meet its full capacity target.

• PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that includes Ohio and 12 other states, said the capacity of resources procured at last week’s auction is short of their reliability requirement.

• PJM is facing a shortfall of about 6.8 gigawatts — the same amount of electricity it would take to power about 4 million homes. 

• It also signals to state lawmakers and consumer watchdogs that Ohioans’ electric bills are going to continue to get even higher. 

• State Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) called the PJM auction results “the worst-case scenario.” 

• “We’ve got data centers entering the market quicker than we can get generation to enter,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, it means prices are probably going to go up and reliability is going to go down.” 

• PJM has also cited data centers as the primary driver of the overwhelming growth in energy demand.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS: US gas prices hit an average of $4 a gallon again as the US and Iran launch attacks

Prices have skyrocketed in Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Gas prices have spiked again in Ohio due to the endless war in Iran that has claimed the lives of three more U.S. service members since Friday. Yet Jon Husted continues to support the reckless war that has put further strain on families already struggling to afford groceries, utilities, health care, and other everyday expenses. Nationally, gas prices reached an average of $4 a gallon after continued attacks in Iran. 

• Meanwhile, Jon Husted has voted eleven times to support the endless war in Iran that has sent costs skyrocketing. 

• Husted claimed earlier this month that the military operation “went very well” while admitting the war he supported “has put a strain on Americans.”

• When asked recently if he was okay with not knowing how long the war will last or how much taxpayer dollars will be spent, Husted replied, “it’s not really up to us.”

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Jon Husted has voted eleven times to support another endless conflict in the Middle East while admitting it’s hurting Ohioans — yet he keeps doubling down instead of working to lower costs at home. Gas prices are surging again thanks to the Husted-backed war in Iran, and Ohio families are once again being forced to pay the price.”

While Husted keeps voting to make everything more expensive, he also can’t help himself from insulting hardworking Ohioans struggling because of his votes:

• When asked what he was doing to address rising gas prices for his constituents, Husted responded: “What do you want me to do?” 

• When a truck driver asked about soaring diesel costs, Husted brushed him off and responded by asking if he was comfortable with Iran being a nuclear power. 

• When asked about the pain that Ohio families are feeling at the pump, Jon Husted’s campaign “declined to comment.”

• Jon Husted has claimed that he thinks the war is “good news for the global economy” and going “much better than anyone thought it would.”

• Husted argued that Ohioans getting crushed with skyrocketing prices just have to “remain strong,” as gas in Ohio “remains astronomically high.”

• Jon Husted continues to insult struggling Ohioans as “not very experienced at navigating the real world” and consistently dismisses the mounting affordability crisis by telling Ohioans to fix their “work ethic” and to simply “earn more” money to make ends meet.

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