Republican Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that he has paused the Buckeye State’s data center tax exemptions. There are approximately 200 data centers in Ohio, the fifth most of any state.
DeWine said in a statement: “One of the reasons Ohio has been so successful in attracting new businesses and creating new jobs is that we have invested in the data infrastructure needed to support complex technological innovation. Data centers that have previously been granted sales and use tax benefits in Ohio have reported a total capital investment of $27.2 billion in 2025.”
I have directed the chair of the Ohio Tax Credit Authority to pause consideration of any new data center tax exemption requests while the Ohio General Assembly’s Joint Data Center Committee studies the growth of data centers in Ohio. https://t.co/SVMpcbRUQV pic.twitter.com/hol92U9cnD
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 27, 2026
According to More Perfect Union, DeWine paused the state’s data center tax break because in 2025 Ohio estimated it “would lose $136 million from the tax break. Instead they lost $1.6 billion.”
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has pivoted and paused the state’s data center tax break.
In 2025 Ohio estimated it would lose $136 million from the tax break.
Instead they lost $1.6 billion.
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) May 28, 2026
MAGA supporters are slamming DeWine for the decision, including former Breitbart writer Michael Foster, executive director of American Compute Project (which “advances American dominance in AI and computing infrastructure”), who replied: “Incredibly disappointing, Governor.” Foster added “@VivekGRamaswamy must reverse this once in office.”
Robert Salvador, CEO of Promota, a company that provides “AI-powered sales forces” also replied to DeWine: “You’re a complete RINO. Luckily your time is almost up.”
With endorsements from President Trump and Governor DeWine (who is not running for re-election because he’s term limited), Ramaswamy has repeatedly said on the campaign trail that if elected, he would “unshackle” Ohio’s energy production and encourage the building of more AI infrastructure.
According to Signal Cleveland, “Ohio offers an exemption to the state’s 5.75% sales tax for data centers that meet certain conditions.”
[NOTE: The Ohio General Assembly’s Joint Data Center Committee, which said it will study the growth of data centers in Ohio, is meeting this week.]