AUSTIN, TEXAS: State Representative Gina Hinojosa won the Texas gubernatorial race, becoming the state’s first Democratic governor in over 30 years and the first Latina to hold the office.
Hinojosa secured victory by defeating incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott, according to election results on Tuesday.
Her campaign centred heavily on opposing the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centres in the nation’s largest planned development hub.
“The voters have delivered a mandate for change, and it is change they will get,” Hinojosa told supporters in her victory speech following the November 3, 2026, contest. The election outcome highlights deep public unease regarding the heavy resource consumption of tech infrastructure.
Read: Abdul El-Sayed Becomes First Muslim Elected to US Senate
Exit polls indicated that 57% of voters believe artificial intelligence will cause more societal harm than good, aligning with local ballot measures across 13 states aimed at restricting data centre construction.
Analysts from Bank of America and Raymond James described the Texas contest as a bellwether for utility regulations and future artificial intelligence investments.
Read: Bruce Springsteen Backs El-Sayed, Draws Mixed Fan Reaction
Hinojosa has pledged to implement a moratorium on new data centre developments, enforce stricter water and power usage regulations, and eliminate specific tax breaks previously championed by her predecessor.
(With input from Reuters and NBC News)
