Hutchinson on NRSC data centers memo: 'Alarmist' tone 'concerning'

# Hutchinson on NRSC data centers memo: 'Alarmist' tone 'concerning'

by Mira Bhakta - 08/20/26 11:26 AM ET

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) called a recent private memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) about data centers "alarmist in tone."

Appearing on NewsNation, Hutchinson told host Blake Burman, "The NRSC memo was almost alarmist in tone, which is concerning in and of itself."

"Republican candidates need to define themselves on the issue of data centers and their expansions and building them in our communities before they are defined on it and before it becomes a bigger issue," Hutchinson continued.

The NRSC memo, titled "Ohio Data Center Risk," was sent to AI companies, arguing if incumbent Ohio Sen. Jon Husted (R) loses his Senate election against former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) — who the memo says has made opposition to data centers the "centerpiece of his campaign against Husted" — the campaign against data centers "will expand far beyond Ohio."

The NRSC wrote that these companies should make a better case for themselves and do it fast: explaining who benefits, who pays for higher costs and why communities should want data centers.

Some polling shows that data centers are broadly unpopular with a majority of Americans: 41 percent surveyed by Public First in July said they would oppose a data center being built near them.

Burman asked Hutchinson if he believed this movement against data centers would cause Republicans to align with Democrats as the 2026 midterms approach.

"I think they'll be very careful in what they say. They will support data centers as long as there is local control, as long as the residential consumers don't pay for the electricity, they pay their own way," he said.

Hutchinson cited widespread concern from Americans on the water and energy consumption of data centers as to why data centers may be unpopular in Ohio.

Hutchinson acknowledged that data centers had been seen as "an attractive opportunity for governors to compete and to bring these data centers in," but "now it becomes a controversial issue that you better be able to articulate clearly that you don't want consumers to be paying for it and harmed."

Hutchinson also mentioned President Trump's Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which more than 300 companies have signed on to since it was announced in March. It requires companies involved in building data center infrastructure to cover the entire energy costs.

EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a data center developer operating in California and Virginia, became the latest company to sign the pledge on Aug. 13.