As data centers proliferate across the state, Republicans are caught between a zealous president and governor bent on Texas becoming the next global data center hub, and outraged constituents in red and rural districts where a majority of them are being proposed.
According to a Texas Tribune analysis, at least 82 data centers, or nearly 60% of those that are either planned or under construction, are in state House districts that voted for President Donald Trump and elected a Republican state representative in 2024. Meanwhile, a March Quinnipiac poll found that 65% of Americans oppose the building of an AI data center in their community. Republican state lawmakers — caught in the middle — have offered mixed opinions about data center development amid calls from city and county leaders to give them more freedom to regulate the facilities.
Altogether, the thorny politics could hurt Republicans ahead of this year’s midterm elections — especially in a cycle when they hold the White House, a dynamic that typically favors the opposing party.
In Washington, Trump has removed federal red tape to spur faster data center expansion. Meanwhile, congressional proposals to require greater transparency from operators and protect ratepayers have stalled, and Sen. Ted Cruz is moving to block states from regulating artificial intelli gence nationwide.
Here in Texas, Abbott is promoting the state as the “epi- center" of artificial intelligence development, including in November when he and Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the company’s $40 billion investment in Texas in the form of three new data centers.
The issue is set to be a major focus when lawmakers return to Austin in January.
