Of 41 data center-related ballot measures voted on this week, all but one opposed data centers, while Democrats won governorships in Texas, Georgia and Ohio after promising to pause new permits and tighten construction rules. Jefferies estimates Texas accounts for about 26% of the planned U.S. data center pipeline.
Of 41 data center-related ballot measures voted on this week, all but one broke against data centers. Democrats also flipped governorships in Texas, Georgia and Ohio, where winning candidates had promised to pause new data center permits and tighten construction rules. Jefferies estimates Texas accounts for roughly 26% of the planned U.S. data center pipeline.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott had imposed a permit pause while the state reviews potential strain on its power grid and water supply. Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa wants development to remain paused until lawmakers pass protections for communities and utility customers, and she wants to revisit tax incentives for developers. Cooley partner Mona Dajani said the election could extend the pause and change the conditions for restarting; developers may face equipment commitments, financing costs and customer deadlines while waiting.
The article also reported that vulnerabilities tracked by NIST rose from 4,289 in October 2025 to 17,059 in October 2026. Security professionals warn AI-assisted attacks are likely to worsen, while some believe AI could also help write more secure code and find vulnerabilities faster.
