Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic candidate for Texas governor, said on Thursday that she will push legislation to strengthen regulation of data centers once she takes office in January. Hinojosa also announced that the state will suspend approval of new data‑center projects until the new law is enacted. In a CNN interview, Hinojosa explained that Texas has long been a welcoming environment for business investment. However, she noted that data centers have recently moved into rural communities without adequate legal protections, leaving residents vulnerable to economic and environmental impacts. “The companies are taking advantage of Texas,” she said. “We need to ensure that communities have a say in whether a data center is built and how it operates.” Hinojosa emphasized that her position is not opposed to data centers per se, but rather to the lack of a framework that balances corporate interests with community rights. She said that Texas can simultaneously maintain a strong economy, promote industrial development, and protect residents’ interests, arguing that the three goals are not mutually exclusive.
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