Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has stated that the expansion of big tech companies building data centers in Texas, often with little local oversight, will cease once she assumes office. Appearing on CNN after her midterm victory over incumbent Greg Abbott, Hinojosa expressed a desire for these companies to be partners with communities, rather than exploit a lack of state regulation.
"Those communities have to be able to walk away from the table to leverage what they need for their communities," Hinojosa said. "It is not that I hate data centers. I hate the way they are taking advantage of Texas, and that stops when I’m governor."
Hinojosa, whose victory was supported by Democratic gains in the midterms, also voiced opposition to selling state park land to Elon Musk's SpaceX. She called the idea "unimaginable" and "unacceptable."
Musk, a proponent of building more data centers and a significant investor in AI, had previously warned that U.S. democracy would "end" if Republicans lost their congressional majorities. He also recently announced that production of Tesla's Cybertruck in Texas would be winding down.
Hinojosa has called for an immediate moratorium on data center construction until the state legislature can establish necessary regulations. She urged former Governor Abbott to issue an executive order to halt construction before her term begins, emphasizing that economic growth and public protection are not mutually exclusive goals. "We can have a strong economy, strong industry and protections for the people," she stated.