Data centers central in redrawn Ohio race

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(The Center Square) – The fight for control of Congress, focused on mid-decade redistricting, is in Ohio ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Ohio legislature redrew its congressional map in October 2025 to favor Republicans. The new map, which voters will use in November, could give Republicans an additional seat in Congress.

Ohio’s first congressional district, under the leadership of Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, is one of the districts that was altered to yield Republicans an advantage in Congress. Landsman will face off against Republican Eric Conroy, a former CIA case officer.

Landsman has focused his campaign on lowering costs and reducing healthcare prices. He is the lead sponsor of the Doctors Not AI Act of 2026, legislation that would prohibit employers’ health insurers and self-insured plans from using artificial intelligence to deny health insurance claims.

The legislation would require a licensed healthcare professional to oversee any AI system that is used in reviews or denial determinations. The bill would define employer-sponsored health plan’s use of an AI system in claims reviews as a “treatment limitation.”

“We have to make sure healthcare professionals remain the decision-makers,” Landsman said.

The incumbent lawmaker has touted his support of legislation to cap the price of insulin, increasing the federal minimum wage, and lowering pharmaceutical drug costs.

Landsman has also pushed for a federal framework for AI data centers. He said he would support implementing water usage guidelines for data centers across the country.

“These data centers use a ton of water now,” Landsman said in a congressional hearing. “Almost all that water comes from public water systems, but we don’t currently have federal disclosure requirements in terms of how much water a data center is using, where they’re getting the water, how much they’re taking from the groundwater, so communities lack information.”

Conroy differed in his approach to regulating data centers. He called for local governments to take up regulations on data centers but said technology companies should pay for utility costs incurred by centers.

“We do need to keep an open mind to these AI data centers because we do need to win the AI race against China,” Conroy said. “If we lose this race, it’s like losing the war for the internet.”

Conroy has focused his campaign on cutting middle-class taxes, increasing American energy production and supporting the Trump administration’s immigration agenda.

Conroy slammed Landsman’s legislative record, including his votes against funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement throughout the last Congress.

“A safe nation is the foundation for prosperity,” Conroy said. “I support strong border enforcement, modernizing our immigration system, and ensuring that federal law is consistently upheld to protect American communities and sovereignty.”

Conroy spent the last week at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. During an interview at the convention, the Air Force veteran defended the Trump administration’s continued U.S. military intervention with Iran and called for friendlier relations with global energy sources.

He said military operations against Iran should continue as air assault missions and strategic operations.

“By having friendlier governments both in Venezuela and Iran I think is a long term boon for the American economy,” Conroy said. “I don’t hear my Democratic colleague or any of the Democrats talking about long-term economic planning and how we get there.”

Landsman has repeatedly called for the Trump administration to end military conflict in Iran and has voted for several War Powers Resolutions to limit the president’s ability to continue operations.

Landsman holds a massive fundraising advantage over Conroy with more than $4.6 million in contributions and $3.6 million in cash on hand. Conroy has $1.5 million in contributions and $474,000 in cash on hand.

Landsman received $6,500 from the American Optometric Association PAC, $10,000 from the Laborers' International Union of North America PAC and $1,000 from the Stop Gun Violence PAC.

Conroy received $1,000 from the Citizens United Victory Fund, $10,000 from the SEAL PAC, a group that supports former military running for office.

Military and overseas absentee ballots in Ohio will be sent out  Sept. 18. Domestic absentee ballots will be sent out Oct. 6, the same day early in-person voting begins until the Sunday before Election Day.

Polls are open in Ohio from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. For more information, visit the Ohio Secretary of State website, at ohiosos.gov. For more information on candidates and results on Election Day, visit thecentersquare.com/ohio.