Hinojosa win puts Texas data center plans in focus

Gina Hinojosa’s victory in the Texas governor’s race has put the state’s data-center expansion under fresh scrutiny. She campaigned for a moratorium on new development or approvals until lawmakers establish stronger protections, leaving project developers uncertain about the policy’s scope and duration. Hinojosa defeated Republican incumbent Greg Abbott on November 3, 2026. During the campaign, she called for pausing data-center development until the Texas Legislature could act. Her proposals included giving communities more say and protecting household utility bills and water resources. She has also proposed restricting nondisclosure agreements about projects and ending tax incentives, though the exact terms of any policy have not been established. The election does not itself enact a moratorium. Texas already had a state permitting pause: before the vote, Abbott directed a regulator to halt permits while agencies reviewed projects in the pipeline and assessed effects on the electric grid. One account said the review was expected to conclude in December, after which permitting could begin moving again. The status of that process under Hinojosa remains unsettled. Gordon...