Texas Governor Voter Guide: Abbott, Hinojosa and Dixon on Data Centers and THC
Three candidates are on the ballot for governor of Texas on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin and Libertarian Pat Dixon of Lago Vista, according to the Texas Secretary of State. Four declared write-in candidates, Edward Earl Giles, Jenn Mack, Jinghpaw Majoishingra and Mike Miller, are also listed by the state. Early voting runs through Oct. 30.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the three ballot candidates on two issues that have moved to the center of the race this year: data centers and the rules for THC and hemp products. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own words, official records and Texas reporting.
Many of the positions in the video match a candidate guide by The Texas Tribune, published Sept. 25 and republished by other Texas newspapers on Oct. 25. Community Impact also asked all three candidates, in a written questionnaire, how they would balance data center development with residents' concerns about rapid growth.
Why Data Centers and THC Are Issues
Data centers, many of them built for artificial intelligence, are seeking power from the Texas grid at a record pace. On Aug. 3, the governor's office said the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) was considering more than 474 gigawatts of requests to connect to the grid, over five times the state's record peak demand, and that about 90% of those requests were data centers. In 2025, Abbott signed Senate Bill 6, which set new state rules for large power users such as data centers seeking to connect to the grid, according to law firm analyses of the bill. Texas also offers data centers a sales tax exemption, which Hinojosa's campaign traces to House Bill 2712, signed in 2015.
On THC, Texas legalized hemp in 2019, and a large market for hemp-derived THC products grew after that. In June 2025, Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3, which would have banned most hemp-derived THC products. In his veto statement, the governor's office said the bill "would never go into effect because of valid constitutional challenges." In 2026, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) adopted stricter hemp rules. They count THCA, a compound that turns into intoxicating THC when heated, toward the legal THC limit, which effectively bans most smokable hemp flower, The Texas Tribune and KUT reported. The Texas Hemp Business Council sued DSHS in April. A Travis County judge blocked the rules in May, but the Fifteenth Court of Appeals allowed them to take effect in June while the case continues, Houston Public Media reported. Separately, delta-8 and similar THC products became illegal on July 31 after DSHS reinstated its classification of them as Schedule I drugs following a May 2026 Texas Supreme Court decision; hemp businesses have filed a federal lawsuit over that change, KUT and Houston Public Media reported.
Greg Abbott (Republican, Incumbent)
Abbott was first elected governor in 2014 and is serving his third term. He was previously the longest-serving attorney general in Texas history, and he also served on the Supreme Court of Texas and as a state district judge in Harris County, The Texas Tribune reported. He won the Republican primary in March over 10 challengers, Community Impact reported. He is endorsed by President Donald Trump, according to the Tribune.
On data centers, the video says Abbott paused new data center connections to the state grid pending an audit and supports ending their tax breaks. Both match his official record. On Aug. 3, Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to audit every data center in ERCOT's connection process and said, "The PUCT and ERCOT must complete this audit before any data center project moves forward." Projects that do not meet state requirements "must be denied connection to the Texas grid," he said. In a June 10 directive, he told regulators he expects data centers to lower residential electric bills, pay their own infrastructure costs, add power generation, use water-efficient cooling and reduce impacts on neighbors. His office said on July 23 that he will seek legislation to "repeal sales tax exemptions and other outdated or unnecessary incentives for data centers." The Tribune noted that Abbott had earlier called Texas the "epicenter" of artificial intelligence development. In Community Impact's questionnaire, Abbott said: "I halted new data center projects and set guidelines and guardrails. Data centers must not take water or power needed by Texans, must lower electricity costs for Texans, pay their own infrastructure costs, and not disrupt neighborhoods or rural communities."
On THC, the video says Abbott ordered stricter THC rules, which ended in a smokable hemp ban now being challenged in court. That matches the record. On Sept. 10, 2025, Abbott issued an executive order directing DSHS, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Department of Public Safety to ban hemp sales to minors with ID checks at the point of sale, to strengthen testing, labeling and licensing rules, and to step up enforcement. His office said the order would protect children "while respecting federal law and protecting the liberties of responsible adults." The DSHS rules that followed, which also raised licensing fees, are the smokable hemp ban described above, and the state has defended them in court as a public safety necessity, FOX 7 Austin reported.
Gina Hinojosa (Democrat)
Hinojosa, of Austin, was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley and graduated from Brownsville public schools and the University of Texas, according to her Texas House biography. She has represented House District 49 in central Austin since 2017 and previously served as president of the Austin Independent School District board, The Texas Tribune reported. Before that, she worked as a civil rights and union lawyer. She won the Democratic primary in March over eight other candidates, Community Impact reported. She is endorsed by state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, according to the Tribune.
On data centers, the video says Hinojosa backs a pause on new data centers until lawmakers add community protections and end their tax breaks. That matches her campaign. Her website says: "We need an immediate moratorium on data centers to last until the legislature can meet to put in place real protections so Texans can have a seat at the table to decide if and how data centers come into their communities." It says Abbott should issue an executive order putting a moratorium on new data centers and call a special session "to end the giant tax giveaways he signed into law." Her campaign calls a temporary moratorium that is not backed by law "a scam" and says Abbott will likely lift it after the election. In Community Impact's questionnaire, she said she would "freeze residential electricity rates until we ensure data centers pay for themselves."
On THC, the video says Hinojosa would put THC rules and protections for minors to a public vote. The Texas Tribune reported that she "would push for Texas voters to decide on THC regulations and protections for children through a public vote." In an Aug. 12 post on X, after delta-8 products became illegal, Hinojosa wrote: "Texans should know whether the THC gummies they bought last month are legal or whether they're a felony. Greg Abbott is playing politics with our laws. When I'm governor, I'll let the people vote." Her campaign website does not list a position on THC.
Pat Dixon (Libertarian)
Dixon, of Lago Vista, is a professional engineer who owns and runs Dixon Process Automation Services Inc. He served two terms on the Lago Vista City Council, chaired the Libertarian Party of Texas for 10 years and served two terms on the Libertarian National Committee, The Texas Tribune reported. He was chosen as the Libertarian nominee at the party's April convention, Community Impact reported. He describes his platform as "free market sustainability," which he says means growth should pay for itself.
On data centers, the video says Dixon opposes tax incentive programs, including for data centers. That matches his campaign. On his website, Dixon writes: "We should not be paying to bring AI Data Centers to Texas." He says Texas is projected to give up about $3.2 billion in sales tax revenue over two years because of data center exemptions, and he calls these incentives "crony capitalism" or "corporate welfare." He also says, "I do not oppose an AI data center that pays for their impact or provides their own resources," and warns that trying to stop projects that already have approval would lead to lawsuits. In Community Impact's questionnaire, he said his policy "reverses the tax subsidized incentives that bring AI data centers and other growth into Texas without having those responsible for growth pay for it." He told KLTV that taxpayers should not pay for growth that strains water, power and roads.
On THC, the video says Dixon believes adults should be free to choose while impaired driving is punished. That matches his campaign. In a post titled "The War on Hemp," Dixon says he applauds Abbott for vetoing Senate Bill 3, "but I believe Texas should go further: adults should be free to make their own choices, provided they don't harm others." He criticizes the July 31 reclassification of delta-8 products and says government has a legitimate role "in defending you, protecting children, and punishing impaired driving and other conduct that puts innocent people at risk."
Where to Follow the Candidates
Greg Abbott: @GregAbbott_TX on X and @governorabbott on Instagram. Gina Hinojosa: @GinaHinojosaTX on X and @ginafortexas on TikTok and Instagram. Pat Dixon: @PatDixon_org on X and @patdixon_org on Instagram. No official TikTok account was found for Abbott or Dixon.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Texas Secretary of State, Nov. 3, 2026 General Election ballot (election results page listing certified candidates): https://electionresults.sos.state.tx.us/results.html ; The Texas Tribune via the Longview News-Journal, "Texas governor: Who's running and what to know about the candidates" (Oct. 25, 2026): https://news-journal.com/2026/10/25/texas-governor-whos-running-and-what-to-know-about-the-candidates/ ; The Texas Tribune, "Texas governor 2026: What to know about Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa" (Sept. 25, 2026): https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/25/texas-governor-2026-guide-abbott-hinojosa/ ; Community Impact, "Q&A: Meet the 3 candidates running for Texas governor" (Aug. 27, 2026): https://communityimpact.com/central-austin/election/q-a-meet-the-3-candidates-running-for-texas-governor/ ; Office of the Texas Governor, "Governor Abbott Directs Comprehensive Data Center Audit" (Aug. 3, 2026): https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-directs-comprehensive-data-center-audit ; Office of the Texas Governor, "East Texas Data Center Withdraws After Falling Short Of Governor Abbott's Standards" (July 23, 2026): https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/east-texas-data-center-withdraws-after-falling-short-of-governor-abbotts-standards ; Office of the Texas Governor, "Governor Abbott Issues Executive Order To Protect Children From Hemp Products" (Sept. 10, 2025): https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-executive-order-to-protect-children-from-hemp-products ; Office of the Texas Governor, "Governor Abbott Vetoes Senate Bill 3 (89R)" (June 22, 2025): https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-vetoes-senate-bill-3-89r ; Baker Botts, "Texas Senate Bill 6: Understanding the Impacts to Large Loads and Co-Located Generation" (July 2025): https://www.bakerbotts.com/thought-leadership/publications/2025/july/texas-senate-bill-6-understanding-the-impacts-to-large-loads-and-co-located-generation ; Houston Public Media/KUT, "Texas rule targeting smokable hemp is back in effect, but enforcement is unclear" (June 10, 2026): https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2026/06/10/554121/austin-tx-hemp-cannabis-marijuana-court-appeals-decisin/ ; FOX 7 Austin, "Texas hemp ban can be enforced for now, court says": https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-hemp-ban-enforceable-legal-challenge-court ; KUT, "Is possessing smokable hemp flower still legal in Texas?" (Sept. 15, 2026): https://www.kut.org/business/2026-09-15/texas-thca-hemp-flower-concentrate-schedule-i-legal ; Houston Public Media, "Following ban, Texas hemp reps sue state for violating commerce protections" (Aug. 4, 2026): https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2026/08/04/558590/texas-hemp-thc-lawsuit-ban-felony/ ; Texas Hemp Business Council, "THBC v. DSHS: Where the Lawsuit Stands": https://texashempbusinesscouncil.com/thbc-v-dshs-where-the-lawsuit-stands/ ; Texas House of Representatives, Rep. Gina Hinojosa biography: https://house.texas.gov/members/3210/biography ; Gina Hinojosa campaign, Data Centers: https://ginafortexas.com/priority/data-centers/ ; Gina Hinojosa on X (Aug. 12, 2026): https://x.com/GinaHinojosaTX/status/2087699154952688030 ; Pat Dixon campaign, "AI Data Centers" (Aug. 19, 2026): https://patdixon.org/ai-data-centers/ ; Pat Dixon campaign, "The War on Hemp" (Aug. 19, 2026): https://patdixon.org/the-war-on-hemp/ ; KLTV, "Libertarian gubernatorial nominee Pat Dixon makes case for choice, limited government" (Oct. 6, 2026): https://www.kltv.com/2026/10/06/libertarian-gubernatorial-nominee-pat-dixon-makes-case-choice-limited-government/ ; Greg Abbott campaign: https://www.gregabbott.com/ ; Gina Hinojosa campaign: https://ginafortexas.com/ ; Pat Dixon campaign: https://patdixon.org/
Comments