Data Center Record.

Texas U.S. Senate 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. Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Texas

    Ken Paxton

    Republican

    Of 20 statements on the record, 1 was for data centers, 7 raised concerns about data centers, 2 were mixed and 10 carry no label.

    What they said

    1 7 2

    What they did

    No vote on a data center measure on the record.

    20 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

    Ken Paxton's page · In their own words

  2. James Talarico, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Texas

    James Talarico

    Democratic

    Of 17 statements on the record, 8 raised concerns about data centers, 4 were mixed and 5 carry no label.

    What they said

    0 8 4

    What they did

    No vote on a data center measure on the record.

    17 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Photo: Antonioaesparza, CC BY SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

    James Talarico's page · In their own words

  3. Ted Brown

    Libertarian

    No sourced statement on the record as of October 26, 2026. No vote on a data center measure either. Silence is not a position.

    0 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Ted Brown'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 Ken Paxton stand on data centers?

Of 20 statements on the record, 1 was for data centers, 7 raised concerns about data centers, 2 were mixed and 10 carry no label.

Statements 20 statements

  1. · paraphrased

    Ken Paxton's Texas First Data Center Plan combines federal legislation with state level support, including prohibiting Chinese technology in data centers, criminal liability for AI safety violations, supporting the DATA Act, and backing Abbott's proposals for noise/light controls, traffic planning, rural neighborhood restrictions, sales tax exemption repeal, and closed loop water systems.

    FOX 7 Austin · Full quote, context and sources

  2. · paraphrased

    Ken Paxton, Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, said there is plenty of open space in Texas for data centers and backed continued development with conditions

    Newsweek · Full quote, context and sources

  3. · paraphrased

    Paxton announced he will investigate Texas data center developments that have not responded to audits regarding water usage.

    The Real Deal · Full quote, context and sources

  4. · paraphrased

    Paxton predicted data center industry would eventually become an economic boom for Texas

    Newsweek · Full quote, context and sources

  5. · paraphrased

    Paxton called for data centers to recycle their own water to not worsen water problems

    Newsweek · Full quote, context and sources

  6. · paraphrased

    Paxton said data centers must provide their own power and cannot use the Texas power grid or raise rates for other customers

    Newsweek · Full quote, context and sources

  7. · paraphrased

    Ken Paxton said data center development is necessary to compete with China in artificial intelligence

    San Antonio Current · Full quote, context and sources

  8. · paraphrased

    Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, said there is plenty of open space in Texas for data centers and supported further development

    San Antonio Current · Full quote, context and sources

  9. · paraphrased

    Attorney General Ken Paxton stated he would be investigating Texas data center developments that have not yet responded to the required water use survey.

    CBS7 · Full quote, context and sources

  10. · paraphrased

    Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a data center plan that mirrors Abbott's tougher posture, including limits near neighborhoods and requirements that companies pay for their own power infrastructure

    news.bloomberglaw.com · Full quote, context and sources

  11. · paraphrased

    Republican Ken Paxton introduced Texas First Data Center Plan supporting Abbott's guardrails, eliminating red tape, requiring closed loop water systems, and prohibiting Chinese technology in data centers

    CBS News · Full quote, context and sources

  12. · paraphrased

    Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, announced plan to address data center concerns

    FOX 7 Austin · Full quote, context and sources

  13. · quoted · label set by a tiebreak

    There's no doubt in my mind that the United States will beat the Chinese Communist Party in the AI race. This plan will ensure that happens while putting Texas first, protecting our culture and land, and safeguarding our families and communities.

    The Texas Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  14. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Paxton supports Gov. Abbott's initiatives including repealing sales tax exemptions for data centers

    FOX 7 Austin · Full quote, context and sources

  15. · paraphrased

    Paxton proposes legislation to prohibit Chinese technology in data centers and American infrastructure

    FOX 7 Austin · Full quote, context and sources

  16. · paraphrased

    Paxton's plan includes repealing sales tax exemptions for data centers that require $200 million ground floor investment

    Fox News · Full quote, context and sources

  17. · paraphrased

    Ken Paxton unveiled a four point plan to regulate data centers in Texas

    Fox News · Full quote, context and sources

  18. · paraphrased

    Paxton proposes legislation to hold data centers criminally liable if they use AI chatbots to undermine children's safety

    FOX 7 Austin · Full quote, context and sources

  19. · paraphrased

    Paxton said he would back a ban on AI data centers in rural Texas, which Governor Abbott has also floated.

    The Texas Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  20. · paraphrased

    Paxton co sponsors the DATA Act to speed up energy projects by removing federal red tape

    FOX 7 Austin · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Where does James Talarico stand on data centers?

Of 17 statements on the record, 8 raised concerns about data centers, 4 were mixed and 5 carry no label.

Statements 17 statements

  1. · quoted

    I was actually up in Abilene meeting with residents, Democrats and Republicans alike because they are building three giant data centers in Abilene. ... And so I've rolled out a plan to crack down on these giant data center companies. I've said that we got to force them to pay for their own energy instead of jacking up our utility bills. We got to force them to recycle their water so they are not exacerbating the water crisis here in Texas, and force them to get the consent of the people who live in these communities before they start building.

    CNN and Jubilee Town Hall, Fort Worth · CNN · [Archived Copy] · Watch · Full quote, context and sources

  2. · quoted

    Hold data centers accountable and stop them from jacking up our utility bills: End sweetheart tax deals for big tech companies, guarantee large energy users like data centers fund the infrastructure improvements they need rather than passing those costs on to consumers, require new data centers to use a closed loop system to reduce water consumption and pollution, set minimum federal requirements for new data center projects to protect our grid, environment, and jobs and ensure transparency, and empower local communities to decide whether they want a data center in their town.

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

  3. · paraphrased

    James Talarico's campaign ad released October 12 accused Ken Paxton of providing billions in tax breaks for data centers and receiving nearly half a million dollars in donations from data center companies.

    Yahoo · Full quote, context and sources

  4. · paraphrased

    James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate, said data center construction in Texas should not be allowed to contribute to the state's ongoing affordability crisis and that data centers should not be allowed unless they can meet community demands, pay for their own energy and water, and get community consent.

    Houston Public Media · Full quote, context and sources

  5. · paraphrased

    James Talarico's Hold Data Centers Accountable Plan would repeal tax incentives, give local residents input on construction, require AI companies to pay for electricity and water infrastructure, hold data centers accountable for water pollution, and create an AI Dividend.

    FOX 7 Austin · Full quote, context and sources

  6. · paraphrased

    James Talarico's campaign called for ending tax abatements for data centers, empowering local residents, holding data centers accountable for water pollution, and requiring companies to pay for their own infrastructure

    Newsweek · Full quote, context and sources

  7. · paraphrased

    State Rep. James Talarico said Paxton allowed data centers to operate without regulation for more than a decade before changing his position.

    CBS7 · Full quote, context and sources

  8. · paraphrased

    Democrat candidate James Talarico unveiled a Hold Data Centers Accountable Plan that would end state sales tax incentives, set minimum federal requirements, empower local communities to decide on data centers, and require closed loop water systems

    CBS News · Full quote, context and sources

  9. · paraphrased

    Talarico's plan would repeal state tax exemptions for data centers, mandate data centers cover 100% of grid connection costs, and require closed loop water recycling systems

    Fox News · Full quote, context and sources

  10. · quoted

    These data center companies are driving up utility bills for Texans. They are using massive amounts of water, and they are moving into communities without any notification, without any consent from the people who live there.

    Texas Public Radio · Full quote, context and sources

  11. · quoted

    If they're not going to come and create good union jobs and support our communities, then they shouldn't be in our communities.

    San Antonio Current · Full quote, context and sources

  12. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Talarico told reporters in San Antonio that he opposes a complete moratorium on new data center construction in Texas and instead wants regulations for the industry.

    San Antonio Current · Full quote, context and sources

  13. · quoted

    I reject that choice, and the plan that we're outlining today to hold data centers accountable, I think, strikes a balance between welcoming those investments while also protecting working people.

    The Texas Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  14. · paraphrased

    Talarico's plan calls for minimum federal requirements for new data centers covering the grid, the environment, jobs and transparency; repeal of the Texas sales tax exemption for data centers; large energy users paying their own infrastructure and grid interconnection costs; closed loop water systems; authority for local communities to approve or reject a data center; and release of government records on the tax breaks given to individual data centers.

    The Texas Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  15. · paraphrased

    Talarico did not call for a moratorium, saying he wanted to support innovation and technology while ensuring local communities had a say in projects near them, and that projects not meeting basic guardrails should not move ahead.

    The Texas Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  16. · quoted

    Texas should be a leader when it comes to innovation and technology, but that only works if Texans get a say and get a share of that economic growth.

    The Texas Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  17. · quoted

    Data centers are jacking up utility bills across the state of Texas. Billionaire backed politicians are giving sweetheart tax deals to giant AI companies and then sticking us with the bill.

    The Texas Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Where does Ted Brown stand on data centers?

No public statement on data centers is on the record yet for Ted Brown.

Statements 0 statements

No public statement on data centers is on the record yet for Ted Brown.

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

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