I have lived in the Mahoning Valley long enough to recall when Ohio decided presidential elections. Recently, though, many assumed Ohio was settled. Tuesday night reminded them otherwise.
Sherrod Brown is heading back to the U.S. Senate after defeating Jon Husted, two years after losing his old seat to Bernie Moreno. Dr. Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy to become the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win that office in twenty years. Nationally, Democrats took control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Many will debate the implications of this election for 2028. I want to discuss the implications for the electric bill on my kitchen table.
The electric bill was on the ballot
During his race against Husted, Brown highlighted the link between the high cost of electricity and the spread of huge data centers. He referred to Husted as “the face of data centers.” He also pointed to the FirstEnergy bribery scandal and the $1.3 billion ratepayer bailout tied to it. These tactics worked, and that’s telling. Consumers under pressure from their electric providers will remember who was in the room.
Acton has indicated that she will tackle the electric bill quickly. She has also asked for a conditional pause on new data centers. However, just how much control a governor has over rates remains to be seen. Consumers in this state should keep an eye on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio over the coming year. That is where the action will be.
Seniors and property taxes
This one is important for retirees such as myself. Acton’s property tax plan would expand the homestead exemption for Ohio seniors. It would also provide a rebate to Ohioans hit by large increases in their property tax bills. Finally, she aims to fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan so that school districts rely less on local property taxes. The last item is the most expensive, and no one has yet explained where the money will come from.
Acton will not do this alone. While Republicans still control the Statehouse, Democrats have broken the Republican supermajority in the Ohio House. This means that Acton’s vetoes can actually stick. There will be a great deal of back and forth, and the resulting compromise is likely to be less than what was promised during the campaign. That’s usually how it goes.
What about Washington?
With a Republican president and a Democratic Congress, the two are likely to be at odds. For consumers, gridlock is not entirely negative, because it generally means fewer sudden shocks. However, there can also be standoffs over spending deadlines, and shutdowns hit the paychecks of contractors and federal employees here in the Valley. Wall Street didn’t seem worried. Stock futures rose the day after the election.
My recommendations
Do not spend money that you do not have yet. A campaign promise does not equal a check in the mail. If you are a homeowner over the age of 65, check whether you already qualify for the existing homestead exemption. Many seniors who are entitled to it never claim it. Finally, take a close look at your electric bill. If your costs start to come down, that is positive. If they don’t, then you know whom to call.
Ohio just told everyone it cares more about the cost of living than the culture war. Now we find out whether anybody was listening.
Photo: Element5 Digital on Unsplash.
