What Happened?

NRDC Action Votes, an environmental super PAC, said its Sept. 29 campaigns against Republican candidates Jon Husted, Tom Barrett, Anna Paulina Luna, Rob Wittman and Zach Nunn focused on data centers, energy costs and federal tax policy.

NRDC Action Votes, an environmental super PAC, has reported $5 million in independent expenditures opposing eight Republican candidates across Senate and House races this cycle. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) tracks and discloses campaign money in federal races.

More than 60 percent of that total targets Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), with $3.05 million in opposition spending against him. The group describes itself as focused on averting dangerous climate change, supporting healthy communities, and protecting nature and wildlife.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

NRDC Action Votes said its campaigns targeting Husted, Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), and Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) focused on data centers, energy costs, and federal tax policy. Its $250,000 campaign against Jennifer Balkcom, a Republican candidate in North Carolina's 11th District, focused on Hurricane Helene recovery.

The Union of Concerned Scientists reported in September 2025 that customers in seven states served by the PJM power grid, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, were paying for $4.3 billion in electricity-infrastructure projects approved in 2024 to connect data centers. Separately, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel reported that many Ohio consumers saw electric-supply price increases of 10 to 35 percent in June 2025, though that report does not establish that data centers caused those specific increases.

Both Sides, Now

NRDC Action Fund is the dominant contributor in the committee's itemized receipt data, accounting for approximately $3.08 million of NRDC Action Votes' $3.09 million in total receipts through Aug. 31. A $3 million digital ad buy opposing Husted and a $500,000 buy opposing Michael Whatley, a Republican Senate candidate in North Carolina, were both reported in September through the firm C Plus K LLC.

The Union of Concerned Scientists said on Sept. 15, 2025, that its analysis found customers in seven PJM states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, were paying for $4.3 billion in electricity-infrastructure projects approved in 2024 to connect data centers. The eight targeted Republicans had not responded publicly to the spending as of the time of this report.

Congress does not directly control independent expenditures by outside groups, which are protected political speech under federal law. The FEC requires disclosure of such spending, which is what makes these filings public.

What Happens Next?

Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show Van Ness Creative Strategies received $300,000 on Sept. 29 for digital advertising opposing Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), was paid $250,000 on July 23 for digital advertising opposing Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA), and also appears in filings for digital advertising targeting Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) and Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA). Through Aug. 31, NRDC Action Votes reported holding $1.82 million in cash, after raising $3.09 million and spending $1.28 million.

Voters in Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Iowa will decide the races these ads target. Additional FEC filings can be tracked through the Legis1 platform.

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