Full Breakdown
Texas Senate and Governor Races Tighten Amid Widespread Data-Center Opposition
8/27/2026, 1:00:53 AM
Core Event: Near-Tie in the U.S. Senate Race and a GOP Lead in the Governor’s Race
A University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll of 1,200 registered voters conducted in early August shows the Texas U.S. Senate contest essentially dead-locked. The poll reports 42 % favoring Democrat state Rep. James Talarico and 39 % backing Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton, with a 2.83-point margin of error. Libertarian Ted Brown trails at 3 %, while 14 % of respondents express no preference.
In the governor’s race, Republican Greg Abbott leads Democrat Gina Hinojosa 45 % to 40 %, with Libertarian Pat Dixon at 3 % and 10 % undecided.
Background & Context
The August poll reverses a June poll that placed Paxton a point ahead of Talarico (43 % to 42 %). The shift suggests a tightening of the Senate contest as the election approaches.
Data & Statistics: Opposition to Data Centers
The poll also captures statewide sentiment on data-center construction:
- 57 % of Texans oppose building a data center in their community, while 30 % support it.
- Republicans are split (45 % support, 43 % oppose); 75 % of Democrats oppose, with 59 % strongly opposed.
- Among independents, 54 % oppose and 19 % support.
- Rural voters are 60 % opposed (44 % strongly), and suburban voters display a similar pattern.
These figures mirror a June poll that recorded 56 % opposition and 29 % support, indicating a consistent public stance across two surveys.
Additional statewide contests reveal Republican leads: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (42 %) over Democrat Vikki Goodwin (35 %); Attorney General candidate Mayes Middleton (40 %) over Democrat Nathan Johnson (35 %); Comptroller Don Huffines (40 %) over Democrat Sarah Eckhardt (34 %).
On-the-Ground Report: Hinojosa’s “100 Days of Action”
On July 26, 2026, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa launched a “100 Days of Action” campaign in El Paso, targeting local neighborhoods with volunteers from the El Paso Democratic Party and the UTEP College Democrats. Former candidate Beto O’Rourke joined Hinojosa at the kickoff, emphasizing the effort to build a “blue wave” in Texas.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All cited sources present a consistent picture of the poll’s numbers and public opinion on data centers; no contradictory figures appear. However, the poll’s methodology (e.g., weighting adjustments) is not detailed beyond the margin of error, leaving a gap in understanding how demographic factors may have influenced the results.
What’s Next
- The “100 Days of Action” campaign will continue through the remainder of the election cycle, with additional events planned for late August and September.
- Voters will head to the polls in November for the Senate, governor, and other statewide contests.
- The University of Texas/Texas Politics Project is expected to release a follow-up poll later in the fall, which may clarify any shifts in voter sentiment as the election nears.
