Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Texas
Now: Attorney General since 2015 verified October 13, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
On your ballot U.S. Senate, Texas (certified list (opens in a new tab), verified October 9, 2026)
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab), cropped.
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
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.
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.
Position History: Chronological record of positions across sourced statements.
- · Mixed · The Texas Tribune
- · Raises concern · FOX 7 Austin
- · Raises concern · FOX 7 Austin
- · Raises concern · Fox News
- · Raises concern · FOX 7 Austin
- · Raises concern · The Texas Tribune
- · Supports · FOX 7 Austin
- · Raises concern · news.bloomberglaw.com
- · Raises concern · The Real Deal
- · Mixed · FOX 7 Austin
What they said
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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.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 30, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 7 Austin (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "sales tax exemption repeal, and closed loop water systems, noise/light controls, traffic planning, rural neighborhood restrictions".
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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
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 29, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Newsweek (opens in a new tab), national outlet
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Paxton announced he will investigate Texas data center developments that have not responded to audits regarding water usage.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 29, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Real Deal (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "will investigate Texas data center developments that have not responded to audits regarding water usage".
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Paxton predicted data center industry would eventually become an economic boom for Texas
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 29, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Newsweek (opens in a new tab), national outlet
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Paxton called for data centers to recycle their own water to not worsen water problems
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 29, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Newsweek (opens in a new tab), national outlet
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Paxton said data centers must provide their own power and cannot use the Texas power grid or raise rates for other customers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 29, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Newsweek (opens in a new tab), national outlet
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Ken Paxton said data center development is necessary to compete with China in artificial intelligence
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- San Antonio Current (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, said there is plenty of open space in Texas for data centers and supported further development
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- San Antonio Current (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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Attorney General Ken Paxton stated he would be investigating Texas data center developments that have not yet responded to the required water use survey.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- CBS7 (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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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
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- news.bloomberglaw.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "limits near neighborhoods and requirements that companies pay for their own power infrastructure".
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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
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 25, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- CBS News (opens in a new tab), national outlet
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Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, announced plan to address data center concerns
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 7 Austin (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. Both readings of the statement held it.
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"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."
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Direct verbatim quote from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Texas Tribune (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "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".
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Paxton supports Gov. Abbott's initiatives including repealing sales tax exemptions for data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 7 Austin (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Support and advocate for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s initiatives to address data centers in the state, including repealing sales tax exemptions.".
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Paxton proposes legislation to prohibit Chinese technology in data centers and American infrastructure
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 7 Austin (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "proposes legislation to prohibit Chinese technology in data centers and American infrastructure".
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Paxton's plan includes repealing sales tax exemptions for data centers that require $200 million ground floor investment
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Fox News (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
Ken Paxton unveiled a four point plan to regulate data centers in Texas
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Fox News (opens in a new tab), national outlet
- WFIN (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "unveiled a four point plan to curb rapid data center growth".
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Paxton proposes legislation to hold data centers criminally liable if they use AI chatbots to undermine children's safety
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 7 Austin (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "hold data centers criminally liable if they use AI chatbots to undermine children's safety".
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Paxton said he would back a ban on AI data centers in rural Texas, which Governor Abbott has also floated.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Texas Tribune (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "he would back a ban on AI data centers in rural Texas".
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Paxton co sponsors the DATA Act to speed up energy projects by removing federal red tape
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 7 Austin (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "co sponsors the DATA Act to speed up energy projects by removing federal red tape".
Where we looked
- the campaign website (kenpaxton.com (opens in a new tab)): checked October 13, 2026, nothing found; the campaign site and its issues page carry no data center page or sentence (read October 13, 2026)
- news searches: checked October 13, 2026, 2 statements; the Texas Tribune of August 24, 2026 (the Texas First data center plan, his statement quoted); the plan's own text was posted on X on August 24, 2026 and is not read by the record; FOX 7 Austin's August 24 report was already on file (read October 13, 2026)
- the official office website (texasattorneygeneral.gov (opens in a new tab)): checked October 13, 2026, nothing found; no news release on data centers found on the office's site (read October 13, 2026); the office's amicus brief for Sulphur Springs is reported by KLTV (November 25, 2025) and no copy of the brief is on file
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Others in this race
- James Talarico Democratic · U.S. Senate · the race page
- Ted Brown Libertarian · U.S. Senate · the race page
Something missing?
Know a sourced statement by Ken Paxton on data centers that is not here? Send the link. It goes to the record's inbox as a card routed to this person and publishes only after it is read against its source.
Are you Ken Paxton or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.
Data Center Record, "Public statements by Ken Paxton", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/ken-paxton, last verified October 20, 2026.
Reusing this page
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Last verified: October 13, 2026.