Ken Paxton Unveils Four-Point Plan To Protect American Communities From Data Centers

The Washington Post reports that the four-point plan, announced as Paxton campaigns for U.S. Senate, stops short of calling for a moratorium on new data center projects. It also endorses the data center plan Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced earlier in August 2026, under which the Republican governor paused new data center approvals until companies agree to limits on electricity, water and other resource use.

“Texans deserve a fighter to lead and represent them as we address the growing presence of data centers in Texas and stop their negative impact on our neighborhoods,” Paxton said in the statement. “This plan will ensure that happens while putting Texas first, protecting our culture and land, and safeguarding our families and communities.” Paxton added that his plan “will also work to ensure that data centers are not utilized to power AI platforms that endanger our children.”

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Great plan AG Paxton. Don't forget about maintaining greenspace and potential noise from data center operation.

— El Semental (@ElSemental1897) August 24, 2026

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That's a better plan than the democrats' plan which is to reject all data centers regardless.

— TheBigO99 (@TheBigO1999) August 24, 2026

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Good for you for listening, and being thoughtful and strategic on this topic.

— Erich Hartmann (@erichhartmann) August 24, 2026

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Paxton is facing off against Democratic nominee James Talarico in a tight race for the Texas Senate seat, which the Cook Political Report recently classified as a “toss-up.”

Data centers have increasingly become a central issue in the midterm elections, as Americans have grown wary of the push to rapidly build more of the sprawling server warehouses to support AI development.

This has prompted several Republican candidates to stake out positions against data centers, even as President Trump continues to embrace the build-out.

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP nominee for Senate in Michigan, announced last week that he was calling for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in the state.

In the Pennsylvania governor’s race, Republican Stacy Garrity is calling for a “pause” on data center development and has taken aim at incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) over his prior support for such projects.

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