Forty-six of forty-seven data center-related ballot measures voted on November 3, 2026 passed, with roughly 98% overall support for restrictions including bans, moratoriums, power usage caps, and resident approval requirements. Only Harwood, North Dakota rejected its measure.
Where
Statewide
When
November 3, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
Greg AbbottRepublican Governor of Texas who promoted data center recruitment
Gina HinojosaDemocrat elected Governor of Texas, pledging data center moratorium
Austin McCartyAttorney handling Texas data center matters at K&L Gates
The facts
At least 50 data center ballot measures were scheduled in 2026.1
Of 47 data center measures tallied by November 4, 2026, 46 restricted construction.1
Overall support for data center restrictions reached roughly 98%.1
Restrictions included bans, moratoriums, power usage caps, and resident approval requirements.1
Harwood, North Dakota rejected its data center review measure.1
Abbott halted new data center connections to Texas power grid in August 2026.1
Texas accounts for 25% of planned U.S. data center capacity per Goldman Sachs.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Gina Hinojosa Pledged full data center moratorium until legislature passes law for resident participation.1
Austin McCarty State needs to grasp recent measures before finalizing new legal framework; settled policies entering new phase.1
Austin McCarty Some projects will be delayed, some developers will withdraw, others will rush to complete before regulations take effect.1
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
AI Data Center Restrictions Win Big in US Midterms: 46 of 47 Ballot Measures Back Construction Limits
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Elon Musk spent an estimated $474 million on the 2026 midterm election, the most by any non-candidate in U.S. history. He spent approximately $200 million on a Texas Senate race where his candidate lost by 12 points to a Democrat.
$$474 million for spending on 2026 midterm election
Elon Musk, spent estimated $474 million on 2026 election; President Trump, received Musk's support; James Pindell, journalist reporting on Musk's spending and 1 more
Democrat James Talarico won a U.S. Senate seat in Texas on November 4, 2026, defeating Republican Ken Paxton. Talarico is the first Democrat to win a Senate seat in Texas since 1988 and the first to win statewide office in more than three decades.
$$200 million for campaign spending for Paxton
James Talarico, Democrat who won Texas U.S. Senate seat; Ken Paxton, Republican candidate for Texas U.S. Senate; Trump, President who attacked Talarico during campaign and 1 more
Republican Tom Sell won Texas' 19th Congressional District seat for the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democrat Kyle Rable. With 99% of votes counted, Sell received 69.5% and Rable received 30.5%.
Tom Sell, Republican candidate, projected winner of Texas' 19th Congressional District; Kyle Rable, Democratic candidate
Tejano singer and Latin Grammy winner Bobby Pulido defeated Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz in Texas Congressional District 15 during U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday, November 4, 2026. Pulido won 62% of the vote, flipping the seat from Republican to Democratic representation.
Bobby Pulido, Tejano singer, Latin Grammy winner, and Democratic congressional candidate who won the election; Monica De La Cruz, Republican incumbent in Congressional District 15 who lost the election
Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden announced formation of working groups made up of county election and registration officials to improve the Texas Election Administration Management (TEAM) system as redevelopment continues.
Robert S. Howden, Texas Secretary of State; County election and registration officials, Working group members
Democrat Sarah Eckhardt, a state senator, won the race for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, defeating appointed Republican incumbent Don Huffines. Eckhardt's victory flips the comptroller's office to Democratic control for the first time since 1999.
$$1 billion for Texas Education Freedom Accounts program budget allocation
Sarah Eckhardt, Democratic candidate for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, state senator; Don Huffines, Republican incumbent Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Farrah Abraham ran for Austin City Council District 5 on November 3, 2026, and finished fourth in a four-person race. Incumbent Ryan Alter and David Weinberg advanced to a December 12 runoff.
Farrah Abraham, Candidate for Austin City Council District 5; Ryan Alter, Incumbent, advanced to runoff; David Weinberg, Advanced to runoff
A national "blue tsunami" swept Democrats to gains in ruby-red districts Trump won by double digits in 2024, improving Democrats' margin by 15 percentage points. California Democrats had pursued redistricting changes via Proposition 50 in anticipation of Republican gerrymanders in states including Texas.
$more than $100 million for campaign spending freed up by protecting incumbent Democrats in Southern California swing districts
California Democrats, pursued Proposition 50 redistricting measure; Greg Abbott, Texas Governor who lost reelection; Gavin Newsom, California Governor who promoted Prop. 50 and 4 more