Texas GOP Faces November Losses Over Data Centers, Miller Warns Abbott at Risk
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 28
Texas GOP Faces November Losses Over Data Centers, Miller Warns Abbott at Risk
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Aug 28
Summary
Outgoing Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Texas Republicans could lose statewide races in November if they keep failing to curb data centers, naming Gov. Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, Dan Patrick and his would-be successor Nate Sheets as vulnerable.
Miller said rural Republican voters are threatening to skip some races or back Democrats, arguing the party has ignored local anger over data-center expansion despite his yearlong push for action.
Abbott proposed restrictions this month and Paxton endorsed them, but Miller called the move a "flip flop" and "political fluff," urging a moratorium and a special legislative session instead.
The dispute has spilled into party infighting: Miller said Texas GOP Chair D’rinda Randall accused him last week of campaigning with Democrats after he appeared at anti-data-center events, while Randall said the party remains committed to addressing the issue.
Will the sudden push to revoke lucrative tax exemptions for tech hubs permanently end Texas' reign as the ultimate haven for data center development?
As the Texas grid faces a staggering 474-gigawatt demand backlog, can regulators prevent a catastrophic power crisis before the 2027 legislative session?
With data centers threatening to consume massive amounts of water, will aggressive new audits save local resources or drive away billion-dollar tech investments?