Data center-linked donors gave Abbott about $9 million since mid-2025, much of it after he moved to rein in the industry, analysis finds

Gov. Greg Abbott has collected about $9 million since July 2025 from donors connected to the data center industry, roughly 13% of what he raised in that stretch, according to an analysis published Monday by The Texas Tribune.

Much of the money arrived after Abbott began pushing to restrain the industry, the Tribune found. In June he sent lawmakers recommendations that included ending a major tax break for data centers, and donors tied to the business gave his campaign $1.5 million that month.

In August he put a hold on new data center hookups to the state power grid until a statewide audit is finished. After that announcement, the analysis says, industry-linked donors gave another $2.8 million, his largest monthly total from the sector this election cycle.

How the count was built

The Tribune checked the affiliations of each person or company that has given $25,000 or more since July 2025 to Abbott or to Gina Hinojosa, the Democrat challenging him. It sorted them into two groups:

• Direct ties, $4.9 million: builders, owners and operators of data centers, along with their corporate PACs. The largest named in this group was Fort Worth-based Black Mountain and its CEO, who together gave $1 million.
• Indirect ties, $4.1 million: donors who invest in data centers, are tied to companies that mainly build artificial intelligence, or whose businesses serve data center construction or operations.

The Tribune left out donors whose only link was the energy industry and companies that simply rent data center space, saying both would have stretched the definition too far.

By that measure, Hinojosa has received a single industry-linked contribution since July 2025: $25,000 from T-Mobile's chief operating officer, under 1% of what she raised in that period.

What the campaigns say

Abbott spokesman Eduardo Leal told the Tribune the governor's position is that data centers "must pay their own way," protect the grid and bring their own water. He pointed to Abbott's order that state agencies issue no data center permits until the grid operator finishes its review, and called the Tribune's reporting a "disingenuous attempt to manufacture controversy out of information that is not new."

Hinojosa said Abbott "invited data centers into Texas with the richest tax breaks in the country" and has taken millions from the industry. A Hinojosa campaign ad puts Abbott's industry money at $20 million; the Tribune said that figure relies on a broader definition that counts companies leasing data center space, such as Netflix and CVS, and energy companies.

Jim Henson, who leads the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Politics Project, told the Tribune the industry expects state leaders to negotiate the coming rules and that "nobody wants to be left out of the discussions."

Further down the ballot

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ranked second among statewide candidates with more than $1.6 million from industry-linked givers, mostly from people with indirect ties. His spokesman disputed the classification. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, the Democrat running against Patrick, got none of that money and said large donors want policy that benefits them.

House Speaker Dustin Burrows led all legislative candidates with at least $377,500, according to the analysis.

Early voting in the Nov. 3 election began Monday and runs through Oct. 30.

Sources

The Texas Tribune