Texas Senate Candidates Will Debate Data Center Future
The District 28 race highlights a policy rift over water-intensive infrastructure expansion.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Data Centers
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Should your local community prioritize new data center development over current housing and resource concerns?
Incumbent Republican Charles Perry and Democratic challenger Riley Rodriquez will face off on November 3, 2026, for the Texas Senate District 28 seat. The candidates offer opposing visions for the future of data center development in the state.
Why it matters
The election presents a distinct choice between prioritizing economic development through tech infrastructure or pausing growth to address local housing and resource pressures. This decision could shape the legislative trajectory for water and IT policy across Texas.
Data centers rely on mechanical cooling technologies and water-reuse systems to manage high thermal loads. The total water efficiency gain provided by these systems compared to standard cooling methods in the Texas climate remains a primary point of technical contention.
The players
Charles Perry
Incumbent Republican Texas State Senator for District 28 and chair of the Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
Riley Rodriquez
Democratic candidate for the Texas State Senate in District 28 focusing on community infrastructure and poverty.
The details
Data centers require massive amounts of power and cooling, often utilizing water-reuse systems — processes designed to treat and recycle water for repeated use in equipment cooling. Incumbent Charles Perry supports these projects as a revenue stream to fund critical water infrastructure. Conversely, Riley Rodriquez argues that rapid development exacerbates regional challenges such as housing shortages, which some communities like Abilene are attempting to mitigate through manufactured and temporary housing units.
Timeline
November 3, 2026 is the scheduled date for the election.
Late 2025 marked the announcement of Riley Rodriquez's campaign.
The Tech Race
Legislative control of the Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee determines how the state balances industrial growth with rural resource preservation. The election outcome will define the state's regulatory stance on future data center expansion.
Residents in cities such as Lubbock, San Angelo, and Abilene may see changes in local zoning or infrastructure funding based on the election outcome. The shift toward specialized housing to address construction-related demand may also influence future local development policy.
The takeaway
The election outcome will clarify whether Texas maintains its current trajectory of data center growth as a revenue driver or shifts toward more restrictive zoning and water-use policies. Voters should monitor the post-election committee assignments for shifts in rural infrastructure funding.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's evolving digital infrastructure landscape in our Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Country Homepage.
Live Poll
Should your local community prioritize new data center development over current housing and resource concerns?
