From CNBC · Davis Giangiulio · · 1m 10s
Abbott's lead shrinks as Texas data center backlash grows
Greg Abbott remains favored to win Tuesday's Texas governor race, but Gina Hinojosa's odds have surged as voters turn against data centers.
In brief
Greg Abbott remains favored to win Tuesday's Texas governor race, but Gina Hinojosa's odds have surged as voters turn against data centers. Texas governor Greg Abbott holds a 60 percent chance of winning Tuesday's election against Democrat Gina Hinojosa, but her odds have jumped from 8 percent to 40 percent as voters…
Abbott favored but odds tightening
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has a 60 percent chance of beating Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa on Tuesday, according to prediction market traders on Kalshi.
Hinojosa's odds surge in recent weeks
Hinojosa's odds to win have jumped from 8 percent in mid-July to 40 percent on Monday, with gains coming as polls show the race tightening.
Abbott's data center flip-flop
In November 2025, Abbott touted a 40 billion dollar Google investment bringing three data centers to Texas. But he has since halted data center permit approvals as voter opinion soured.
“Texas will be the "epicenter of AI development."”
Hinojosa attacks Abbott on data centers
Hinojosa is running on an immediate data center moratorium until the legislature puts guardrails on the industry, using Abbott's previous support as an attack against the incumbent.
Here's the gist
Texas governor Greg Abbott holds a 60 percent chance of winning Tuesday's election against Democrat Gina Hinojosa, but her odds have jumped from 8 percent to 40 percent as voters sour on data center development.
