Democratic Wins in US Midterms Threaten AI Data Center Boom in Texas

Democrats won several gubernatorial races in Tuesday's US midterm elections, including in Texas, Georgia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The results reflect voter backlash against the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure across the country.

In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa was elected as the state's first Democratic governor in more than three decades. She had campaigned for an immediate moratorium on data center construction and accused developers of raising electricity rates and depleting water resources.

“nothing more than an election maneuver”

Hinojosa pledged to suspend project approvals until a legislative session puts Texans first and prevents communities from being powerless against global corporations. She called Governor Greg Abbott's promises to restrict operators nothing more than an election maneuver.

Texas currently hosts just under 600 data center projects, according to Data Center Map, with many still planned or under construction. Residents near these sites have reported noise pollution, rising utility bills, water shortages, air pollution concerns, health risks, and falling property values.

The Democratic victories may place about half of the planned AI data center expansion projects in the United States under stricter local control and community resistance. Candidates in multiple states made stricter data center rules a central campaign issue.

Opposition to AI data centers has grown faster than general concern about AI technology. Critics cite links to faulty military strikes, mass shootings, suicides, surveillance, mass unemployment, and biological warfare risks.