One industry faces multi-trillion-dollar reckoning after historic midterm election reshuffle

Texas Democrats’ midterm victories have raised uncertainty over data centre expansion in a state central to the US artificial intelligence boom. A moratorium supported by governor-elect Gina Hinojosa could put billions of dollars in planned projects at risk, prompting developers to reconsider where they invest.

Texas is projected to provide about a quarter of new US data centre power capacity through 2030, with at least 248 projects planned. Jefferies estimates that 13.3 gigawatts of announced developments could be affected by a moratorium. Opposition is also growing elsewhere: Ohio voters considered 21 data centre-related ballot questions across 18 communities, while industry executive Brittany Kaiser said projects still in the pipeline may be easier to shift abroad than those already tied to land, power and financial commitments.