COLUMBUS, Ohio — Central Ohio residents are receiving political-style text messages urging them to support artificial intelligence and data-center growth as the November election approaches, part of a multimillion-dollar campaign operating in Ohio, Wisconsin and Kansas. The messages do not endorse a candidate. Instead, they promote arguments such as the idea that AI innovation will strengthen Ohio’s economy and that data centers will generate broad economic benefits. Links in the texts direct recipients to Build American AI, a group advocating policies that support data-center expansion. The campaign says development should create economic opportunities for communities, support U.S. workers and keep AI infrastructure in the United States. The effort has also raised questions about how political organizations obtained residents’ phone numbers. Daniel Maldet, who owns CMIT Solutions in Columbus, said large campaigns can purchase personal information collected and sold by data-gathering organizations. Build American AI is connected to Leading the Future, a pro-AI super PAC. Federal Election Commission records show that OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife together contributed $25 million to the political committee, making them among its largest donors. The financial connection is particularly relevant in Ohio, where OpenAI is planning a data center in Pike County. Large computing facilities can bring construction and other economic activity, but they also put pressure on communities to weigh issues including energy use, water demand, infrastructure costs and who ultimately benefits from the investment. A representative of Build American AI said the campaign’s goal is to persuade voters that future data-center development should benefit the communities that host it. The representative did not identify a specific candidate the group is supporting. The campaign’s activity illustrates how political spending can shape public debate even when it does not explicitly ask voters to support or oppose someone on the ballot. For Ohio residents, the messages arrive as state and local officials consider whether and how to accommodate a rapidly expanding AI industry.