Senate Republicans scrapped plans to leave Washington early this week as midterm stakes soared. The change came after Wednesday, when many GOP lawmakers told Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., they wanted to stay in the nation’s capital and keep working.
“I’m optimistic we’ll be here next week,” Thune said. “Odds are we plan on being here next week.”
Why They Changed Their Minds
The Senate was originally scheduled to wrap up over the next few days. Competitive-race candidates had planned to return home to campaign. Then Wednesday arrived, and the calculation shifted.
A Senate aide described the schedule as a cat chasing a laser-pointer beam. The Senate wasn’t finished with the bill regulating money in intercollegiate athletics last week, and affordability concerns worried Republicans. Passing the college sports bill and leaving immediately before the midterms was not appealing.
The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act 417-3 before leaving for the midterms the week before last. Not much passes around here with 417 votes, the story notes.
The bill defrays utility-bill costs ratepayers face if driven up by data centers, forcing tech companies running the data centers to cover the cost. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is one of the most vulnerable Republicans on the ballot this fall.
Husted’s Problem With Data Centers
Husted’s long-standing support for data centers has dragged him down in the eyes of some voters. His colleagues see a chance to help him, and the data center/utilities measure is the vehicle.
Republicans were already wary about the uneven political footing on AI; data centers made that worse. Voters are not enamored with the results of the Big, Beautiful Bill, passed last summer.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said, “In Missouri, people are absolutely scared to death that these data centers are going to take all the prime farm ground of the state. And then they’re going to raise electricity bills so high, no one will be able to afford them.”
The official schedule called for the Senate to meet this week. Once September hit and no government shutdown loomed, senators from both sides — especially those facing competitive elections — wanted to skip Washington and campaign back home.
The Bill’s Stumbling Point
Husted went to the floor to ask the Senate to pass the House bill on the spot. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., objected, blocking the effort.
Republicans viewed the obstruction as an opening to help their Ohio colleague. “Tell the data centers we’re happy to have you. But you’ve got to pay your own electricity. People are not going to pay for it,” said Sen. John Kennedy, R-La.
Republicans were already wary about the uneven political footing on AI; data centers made that worse.
Schumer’s Defense
The reporter asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., why his party stood in the way of the Senate aligning with the House on the data center/utilities measure. “Was this blocked in the Senate last week by Democrats as an effort to prevent Sen. Husted from having a win in this competitive race?” the reporter asked.
“Sen. Husted’s bill is a fraud. It’s voluntary. No company has to do it. The bill we have is mandatory. It is much stronger and is what is needed,” replied Schumer.
The legislation says public utility regulators must only consider a standard for ratepayers; nothing is required, leaving room for tech firms. “What we’re saying is that we can do much better,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “Is it a little step forward? Yes. But it’s not meeting the moment. So our view is we should expand it to make sure that ratepayers aren’t having to subsidize the richest corporations on the planet.”
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said, “Sen. Schumer, what he cares about is the midterm election and politics. And I don’t think he cares about the substance of this.” He added, “Obviously there’s a hot and heavy Senate race going on in Ohio, and he doesn’t want to let Sen. Husted have something he can talk about when he goes home.”
The Test Vote Ahead
Thune is setting up a test vote on Wednesday to force Democrats to either start debate on the bill or block it again. That vote requires 60 yeas, so Democratic cooperation is necessary.
Some Democrats may vote for it despite skepticism that anything happens.
| Party | Position on Husted’s Data Center Bill |
|---|---|
| Republicans | Want to pass it and use it as a win for Husted |
| Democrats | Block it, calling it voluntary and weaker than their own pending legislation |
What This Fight Is Really About
The fight is not about data centers themselves. It is about who controls the message heading into November.
Republicans want to pass a bill and send Husted home with a victory. Democrats want to keep blocking the bill and paint Husted as a vulnerable candidate who cannot get a win.
The irony is that the bill Republicans want to pass was blocked by Democrats last week. Now Republicans are using that block as evidence that Democrats are protecting Husted.
| Who | Role | Stance on the Data Center Bill |
|---|---|---|
| Thune | Senate Majority Leader | Wants to stay and pass the bill |
| Schumer | Senate Minority Leader | Blocked it last week, calls it voluntary |
| Husted | Vulnerable GOP candidate | Asked the Senate to pass it on the spot |
| Kennedy | GOP Senator | Wants tech companies to pay their own electricity |
| Cornyn | GOP Senator | Calls Schumer’s motive politics |
The Senate was scheduled to meet anyway. The question now is whether the vote on Wednesday produces anything beyond another round of talking points.
The stakes are real for Husted, who needs a win to survive the fall. The Senate’s schedule is now tied to his fate.
Key facts at a glance:
– The Senate was scheduled to meet this week anyway.
– The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act 417-3 before leaving for the midterms the week before last.
– The bill defrays utility-bill costs ratepayers face if driven up by data centers.
– Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, is one of the most vulnerable Republicans on the ballot this fall.
– The legislation says public utility regulators must only consider a standard for ratepayers; nothing is required.
– The test vote on Wednesday requires 60 yeas.
The vote on Wednesday will show whether the Senate stays in session for Husted or goes home early. Either way, the midterm math is already changing shape.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs small business and is against any rules that protect the biggest firms at its expense. The vote on Wednesday will show whether the Senate stays in session for Husted or goes home early. Either way, the midterm math is already changing shape.
This fight is not about data centers themselves. It is about who controls the message heading into November. Republicans want to pass a bill and send Husted home with a victory. Democrats want to keep blocking the bill and paint Husted as a vulnerable candidate who cannot get a win.
The irony is that the bill Republicans want to pass was blocked by Democrats last week. Now Republicans are using that block as evidence that Democrats are protecting Husted.
Source material: “Reporter's Notebook: Senate Republicans scrap early exit from Washington as midterm stakes soar,” Fox News.
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