Texas Republicans and Democrats stake out divergent takes on data centers at their conventions
Texas Democrats have adopted a party platform calling for a moratorium on new data centers until stronger state regulations are in place, citing concerns over water and the power grid. This stance contrasts with the Texas Republican Party, which remains divided on the issue, ultimately proposing less stringent regulations focused on water use and local control. A recent poll indicates a majority of Texans oppose data center construction in their communities.
At its biennial convention in Corpus Christi, the Texas Democratic Party officially adopted a platform advocating for a moratorium on new data center construction until more robust state regulations are established. This move follows a Texas Politics Project poll revealing that 56% of Texans oppose new data centers in their communities, with 42% strongly opposed. Democratic candidate for Texas House District 23, Katy Padilla Stout, emphasized the need for a pause to protect the state's water supply and power grid, reflecting a unified Democratic stance.
In contrast, the Texas Republican Party, which held its convention in Houston, showed internal divisions regarding data centers despite Governor Greg Abbott's earlier call for a crackdown. The Texas Politics Project poll also indicated a split among Republicans on the issue, with views on AI's economic impact and data center construction being less uniform than among Democrats. While some Republicans raised concerns about the data center boom, their legislative priorities ultimately focused on "local control" and specific regulations rather than a comprehensive moratorium.
Initially, the GOP's Legislative Priorities Committee considered various guardrails, including regulating AI, safeguarding against surveillance, mandating data centers secure their own power, preventing financial burdens on utility customers, compensating for pollution, and prohibiting tax incentives. However, the final approved priorities for the 2026-2028 legislative session significantly scaled back these proposals. The only explicit mention of data centers in the final document was a mandate to prohibit them from consuming fresh groundwater and surface water, instead requiring nonpotable water sources. This outcome highlights the divergent approaches of the two major parties to the rapid expansion of data centers in Texas.