Texas Democrats are mounting a challenge against Republican incumbents in rural areas, identifying opposition to data center construction as a potent issue. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate for governor, has made opposition to data centers a central theme in her campaign against Gov. Greg Abbott, aiming to capitalize on voter concerns in a state that has not elected a Democratic governor since 1990.
Hinojosa has called for a moratorium on new data center construction, stricter regulations on water and power usage, and an end to tax breaks for the industry. She has criticized Abbott for his support of these tax incentives and his ambition to make Texas an "epicenter" for data centers.
A recent ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll indicated that 69% of Texans oppose new data center construction in their communities. This sentiment appears to be resonating with rural voters, some of whom have historically supported Republicans but are now expressing discontent with Abbott on this issue.
In response to growing concerns, Gov. Abbott announced a moratorium on new data center construction in rural communities in September and stated his support for more stringent power and water usage requirements for these facilities. However, some critics, like Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, have dismissed these actions as insincere. Miller, who lost his re-election bid to a challenger backed by Abbott, accused the governor of prioritizing donors over constituents and suggested that Abbott's stance on data centers will cost him support.
Eduardo Leal, Abbott's press secretary, defended the governor's record, stating, "Governor Abbott has the strongest data center guardrails in the country." Miller, meanwhile, has indicated he will not vote for Abbott or the Republican who defeated him in the primary, citing policy differences on data centers as a contributing factor.
The opposition to data centers extends to grassroots movements, with several rural counties initiating lawsuits to halt construction due to concerns about pollution, water consumption, and the loss of agricultural land. Individual voters, like Marine Corps veteran Daniel McCoslin, have expressed a decision to shift their votes. McCoslin stated that the prospect of a data center near his family's farm motivated him to vote against Abbott.
However, some voices within the Republican party express concern that the backlash against data centers could be an overreaction, potentially harming rural communities. Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian argues that data centers provide much-needed jobs and revenue to struggling parts of the state. He attributes the negative voter sentiment to misinformation and external influences, suggesting that Texans have been misled about the benefits of the industry.
Despite these differing perspectives, the significance of rural Texas voters as a swing demographic in the upcoming elections is widely acknowledged, potentially making the data center issue a deciding factor.