Lima, USA News (Lima, Ohio): Lima stands for “Lost in Middle America,” Rochelle Twining, chairwoman of the local Democrats, explains of the mid-sized Ohio town of 35,000 people surrounded by corn and soya bean fields. The area features a Ford engine manufacturer and a US army tank plant alongside a controversial $500m (£372m) Google data centre spanning nearly 400 acres currently under construction in American Township, powering the artificial intelligence revolution.
Ohio has long served as a political bellwether. Donald Trump won presidential elections in the state three times, securing more than an 11 percent margin in 2024, leading many to regard it as solid MAGA territory. However, recent polls indicate the state is competitive again. Veteran Democrat Sherrod Brown has nosed ahead of Republican incumbent Jon Husted in the race for the Senate by two to five points as he attempts to flip the seat. President Trump has visited the state four times during the midterms to rally support.
The Gubernatorial Contest and Controversial Advertising
The race for Ohio governor between wealthy Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, Ohio’s former health director during the Covid-19 pandemic, has drawn significant attention. Ramaswamy sponsored a campaign attack ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, which criticized Acton regarding her past and family history. The ad did not mention that Acton was allegedly sexually abused by her stepfather between the ages of nine and 12, an event that led to criminal charges in 1978.
Trump and Vance defended Ramaswamy’s decision to air the advertisement. Meanwhile, Ramaswamy currently trails Acton by three to four points in polling, with local voters and observers debating the impact of the ad and other demographic factors on the race.
Local Concerns Over Data Centres and Political Sentiment
Opposition to data centres has emerged as a major local issue. A poll by Ohio Northern University and Survey USA published on October 22 indicated that 55 percent of respondents opposed their construction in the state, compared to 22 percent in support. Residents like Randy Tooker, a former maintenance engineer, voiced concerns regarding water usage, electricity bills, and noise pollution, arguing that such facilities should be placed in industrial parks rather than farmland.
Voter sentiment remains mixed across the region. While some residents express fatigue with established politicians and call for term limits, others remain dedicated supporters of Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as the frenetic closing days of the election campaign unfold.
