Ken Paxton advocates for Texas data center expansion amid Senate race

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is facing scrutiny regarding his political standing and policy positions. Following a Republican runoff where Paxton defeated John Cornyn, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina criticized Donald Trump’s support for Paxton as a “colossal mistake” that could jeopardize a Republican Senate seat.

Paxton, who faces a Democratic opponent in James Talarico, has recently advocated for the expansion of data centers in Texas. He argued that such development is necessary for the United States to maintain a competitive edge against China in artificial intelligence. While acknowledging the need for these facilities, Paxton suggested they should be placed in open spaces rather than neighborhoods to mitigate local concerns.

This stance comes amid growing bipartisan opposition in Texas regarding the massive water and power consumption required by data centers. Paxton’s current proposal to manage these impacts focuses on restricting China-made technology and supporting Governor Greg Abbott’s proposed development restrictions.