Data Center Record.

Texas Governor 2026: where the candidates stand on data centers

3 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot, from the Texas Secretary of State's list. The officeholder comes first, then the Republican and Democratic nominees together by last name, then everyone else by last name; in each group a candidate with a statement or vote on the record comes first (how the order works). Each has the same space. The list: Texas Secretary of State, Candidate Information (qualified candidates search), election '2026 NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION' (idElection 53815) (no date stated (live database; each candidate row carries its own filing date)).

Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections

More on Texas: the state page · its laws and bills on data centers · its leaders

The candidates

  1. Greg Abbott, Republican candidate for Governor, Texas

    Greg Abbott

    Republican · In office

    Of 40 statements on the record, 4 were for data centers, 25 raised concerns about data centers and 11 carry no label.

    What they said

    4 25 0

    What they did

    No vote on a data center measure on the record.

    40 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Photo: NASA Johnson Space Center / NASA-JSC/ROBERT MARKOWITZ, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

    Greg Abbott's page · In their own words

  2. Gina Hinojosa, Democratic candidate for Governor, Texas

    Gina Hinojosa

    Democratic

    Of 11 statements on the record, 3 raised concerns about data centers and 8 carry no label.

    What they said

    0 3 0

    What they did

    No vote on a data center measure on the record.

    11 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Photo: LBJ Library from Austin, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

    Gina Hinojosa's page · In their own words

  3. Pat Dixon

    Libertarian

    No sourced statement on the record as of October 20, 2026. No vote on a data center measure either. Silence is not a position.

    0 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Pat Dixon's page · In their own words

Certified write in candidates 4

These candidates are not printed on the November 3 ballot. A voter writes in the name, and the votes count because an official election list certifies the candidacy: the state's own, or a county election board's where the state publishes none. Each line names the list that certifies it; what each has said about data centers stays on their own page.

Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.

Texas voters: Register to vote at VoteTexas.gov or Check your registration (Am I Registered?), both run by the Texas Secretary of State.

In their own words

Where does Greg Abbott stand on data centers?

Of 40 statements on the record, 4 were for data centers, 25 raised concerns about data centers and 11 carry no label.

Statements 40 statements

  1. · paraphrased

    Abbott has called for eliminating sales tax breaks and other unnecessary incentives for data center facilities

    Texarkana Gazette · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  2. · paraphrased

    Abbott said data centers should pay for the electrical infrastructure they need, use water efficient cooling systems, report their electricity and water consumption and limit noise and other disruptions

    Texarkana Gazette · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  3. · paraphrased

    Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants the Legislature to put his restrictions on data centers into law next year

    Texarkana Gazette · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  4. · paraphrased

    Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas is slowing data center development while the state gathers more information about water use, power demand and permits

    KEYE · Full quote, context and sources

  5. · paraphrased

    Abbott told supporters he wants the legislature to pass rules and regulations that will empower local governments to be decision makers about whether data centers will go up in their county or city.

    CBS News · Full quote, context and sources

  6. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Abbott signaled push to eliminate remaining financial incentives for data center industry in next legislative session

    parametric-architecture.com · Full quote, context and sources

  7. · paraphrased

    Gov. Abbott said he wants to give residents power to decide whether a data center can come to their community

    KXII · Full quote, context and sources

  8. · paraphrased

    Abbott says data centers must pay their own way, protect the grid and water, and complete audits

    EastTexasRadio.com · Full quote, context and sources

  9. · paraphrased

    Abbott said projects should bear their electrical infrastructure costs, lower household electricity bills and avoid drawing on water needed by local communities

    TheEnergyMag · Full quote, context and sources

  10. · paraphrased

    Abbott reversed his prior support for data center development in Texas, citing local community concerns.

    The Real Deal · Full quote, context and sources

  11. · paraphrased

    Abbott said he would aim to phase out any economic incentives for data center projects and will work with the Texas Legislature to make that happen

    Realtor.com · Full quote, context and sources

  12. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Abbott wants state lawmakers to eliminate tax incentives for data centers when they return to Austin next year

    EastTexasRadio.com · Full quote, context and sources

  13. · paraphrased

    Abbott says audits aim to ensure data centers do not make the power grid less reliable and must cover all their own electrical infrastructure costs

    EastTexasRadio.com · Full quote, context and sources

  14. · paraphrased

    Governor Abbott stated he will work with the Legislature to eliminate financial incentives for data centers

    Briefs Finance · Full quote, context and sources

  15. · paraphrased

    Ten months ago Abbott said he wanted Texas to be the epicenter of AI development during a Google data center investment event.

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth · Full quote, context and sources

  16. · paraphrased

    Greg Abbott, Texas Governor, said the necessity to rein in the data center industry that was completely out of control

    CBS News · Full quote, context and sources

  17. · paraphrased

    Data centers must not use water needed by local communities, must report electricity and water usage, and must abide by setback requirements

    Position note: Earlier statements in November 2025 promoted Texas as the national hub for AI data center buildouts, before August and September 2026 directives halted new TCEQ permits and required ERCOT grid audits.

    KCBD · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  18. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Abbott plans to work with lawmakers to eliminate tax breaks for data centers

    ABC13 Houston · Full quote, context and sources

  19. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Governor Abbott directed that projects failing to meet audit requirements could be denied grid access entirely

    Energies Media · Full quote, context and sources

  20. · paraphrased

    Data center projects must cover all electrical infrastructure costs, result in lower residential electrical bills, and complete the ERCOT audit

    KCBD · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  21. · paraphrased

    Data centers must cover their electrical infrastructure costs to receive permits

    Texas Scorecard · Full quote, context and sources

  22. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Fewer than 10% of data center companies responded to a state request for information needed to forecast future electricity demand, according to Governor Abbott

    24/7 Wall St. · Full quote, context and sources

  23. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Gov. Abbott issued a directive to the Texas Water Development Board to penalize data centers that don't comply with state water laws

    ABC13 Houston · Full quote, context and sources

  24. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Data centers appear to have committed civil and criminal violations by failing to provide water usage information

    Houston Public Media · Full quote, context and sources

  25. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    TWDB is in charge of developing a state water plan to meet the needs of Texas

    Houston Public Media · Full quote, context and sources

  26. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Gov. Greg Abbott previously promised to make Texas a hub for data center developments

    Texas Standard · Full quote, context and sources

  27. · paraphrased

    Governor Abbott directs TWDB to penalize major water users, including data centers, for failure to comply with water use reporting requirements.

    NewsRadio 740 KTRH · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  28. · paraphrased

    Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state regulators to conduct a comprehensive audit of all data centers advancing through the interconnection process before any additional projects are approved

    Texas Scorecard · Full quote, context and sources

  29. · paraphrased

    Gov. Greg Abbott has changed position on data centers and taken legislative recommendations and steps

    The Gilmer Mirror · Full quote, context and sources

  30. · paraphrased

    Texas Gov. Greg Abbott halted new data center connections to the state's power grid pending a comprehensive regulatory audit

    WFIN · Full quote, context and sources

  31. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his data center pivot was driven by legitimate concerns from Texans, not Chinese propaganda

    Position note: Follows earlier 2025 announcements welcoming hyperscale data center investments in Texas, shifting in summer 2026 toward water reporting enforcement and grid connection reviews.

    Business Insider · Full quote, context and sources

  32. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Gov. Greg Abbott recently endorsed an 'audit' of data center development while Texas studies their impact

    Brookings · Full quote, context and sources

  33. · paraphrased

    Governor Greg Abbott's directive has halted roughly 1,800 data center projects in Texas

    Fox News · Full quote, context and sources

  34. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Abbott told ABC News gaining support of people in local communities is essential for data center development

    Washington Examiner · Full quote, context and sources

  35. · paraphrased

    Gov. Greg Abbott said technology companies that develop data centers dug their own grave when they failed to win the support of local communities

    Washington Examiner · Full quote, context and sources

  36. · paraphrased

    Abbott previously called Texas the epicenter of AI development after Google announced a 40 billion dollar investment

    Washington Examiner · Full quote, context and sources

  37. · paraphrased

    In June 2026, Abbott declared he is 'pushing back against these AI data centers that are trying to build in our neighborhoods'

    KUT · Full quote, context and sources

  38. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Gov. Greg Abbott announced three massive data center projects in Texas in November 2025 alongside Google CEO Sundar Pichai

    KUT · Full quote, context and sources

  39. · paraphrased

    By August 18, Abbott said about 20 companies agreed to comply with his standards

    ABC13 Houston · Full quote, context and sources

  40. · quoted

    We must ensure that America remains at the forefront of the AI revolution, and Texas is the place where that can happen.

    Press announcement · NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Where does Gina Hinojosa stand on data centers?

Of 11 statements on the record, 3 raised concerns about data centers and 8 carry no label.

Statements 11 statements

  1. · paraphrased

    If she wins, Hinojosa told me, she would issue a moratorium on all data center permits until the Legislature can codify regulations.

    texasmonthly.com · Full quote, context and sources

  2. · paraphrased

    At the press conference, Hinojosa called out Abbott’s data center theatrics as nothing more than a lame campaign promise, as nothing has changed for Texans suffering the consequences of unfettered data centers coming into their communities.

    ginafortexas.com · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  3. · quoted

    Greg Abbott’s moratorium on data centers is just words

    ginafortexas.com · [Archived Copy] · also reported by 2 more · Full quote, context and sources

  4. · quoted

    We still have Texans who are against big economic powers in our communities that are having to fend for themselves because Greg Abbott invited the data centers into Texas with the richest tax breaks in the country.

    ginafortexas.com · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  5. · paraphrased

    Gina Hinojosa, Democratic gubernatorial nominee, critiqued data center expansion and called for strict legislative guardrails at a Dallas press conference with North Texas residents.

    FOX 26 Houston · Full quote, context and sources

  6. · paraphrased

    Gina Hinojosa, Democratic nominee for Texas governor, accused Governor Greg Abbott of benefiting wealthy interests through data center tax breaks.

    KSAT · Full quote, context and sources

  7. · paraphrased

    Gina Hinojosa, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said the Governor could change his mind on the pause after November 4

    CBS News · Full quote, context and sources

  8. · paraphrased

    Candidate Gina Hinojosa called for a data center moratorium, union job requirements, elimination of NDAs, proof that households will not pay more for electricity or water, end to tax subsidies, and enforcement of water supply protection

    KXAN Austin · Full quote, context and sources

  9. · paraphrased

    Hinojosa and other Democrats are calling for an immediate moratorium on new data centers and an end to tax handouts for developers

    Texas Standard · Full quote, context and sources

  10. · paraphrased

    Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa asserted that Gov. Greg Abbott is too sympathetic to data centers and that there needs better balance between tech and community concerns

    Brookings · Full quote, context and sources

  11. · paraphrased

    Democrat candidate Gina Hinojosa called for a moratorium on building new data centers until the state legislature can vote on new protections for residents

    CBS News · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Where does Pat Dixon stand on data centers?

No public statement on data centers is on the record yet for Pat Dixon.

Statements 0 statements

No public statement on data centers is on the record yet for Pat Dixon.

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Candidates and their order come from the Texas Secretary of State's list, verified October 9, 2026. Every candidate, by state · How the record reads leaders.

Are you a candidate in this race or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.

Every race in Texas, and where each candidate stands

Election Day is November 3

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