One of Texas’ most outspoken Republicans is sounding the alarm that his own party could pay a price at the ballot box next week over the state’s rapid expansion of data centers.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told NewsNation that Republicans could lose in the upcoming midterms because of rapid data center development, and criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for not taking a tougher stance against the projects.
Miller said Republicans have stopped focusing on the issues Texas voters care about, claiming that 80% of people do not want a data center in their backyard.
Polling backs up his concerns. An August survey from the Texas Politics Project found about 57% of respondents opposed or strongly opposed building data centers in their communities, with opposition much higher in rural areas. More than 300 data centers already operate in Texas, and a Texas Tribune analysis found at least 248 more are planned.
Miller has been warning about the issue for months. In an earlier interview, he described the GOP’s troubles as “death by 1,000 cuts,” pointing to data centers, high-voltage transmission lines and the use of Flock cameras as sources of voter frustration. Miller has said he is not against data centers outright but wants state officials to be smart about development and the resources the facilities use.
The longtime Trump ally also raised concerns about the struggling farm economy. Speaking for Texas farmers, Miller pointed to record diesel and fertilizer prices, saying it is tough to make a living in agriculture.
Republican farmers have long backed Trump but have voiced concern over his recently announced $8 billion relief plan, and a USDA official said payments will likely arrive closer to the end of the year, after the midterms.
Miller’s criticism has put him at odds with Abbott. The governor has called special sessions for redistricting and school vouchers but has resisted calling one on data centers. Abbott, who is seeking a fourth term, recently highlighted that a proposed East Texas data center withdrew its application after failing to meet his criteria.
Miller is speaking out with little to lose politically. He lost his reelection bid in the Republican primary earlier this year to Nate Sheets. Sheets now faces Democrat Clayton Tucker, who nearly received Miller’s endorsement, a move that has sparked tension within the Texas GOP.
Miller has said data centers are not a partisan issue and has stopped short of endorsing any Democrats, while warning that Republicans will lose some races in the midterms because of this one subject.
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