From Fortune · Nick Lichtenberg · · 1m 30s
Tocqueville’s 1835 democracy explains 2026 midterms
Texas voters banned data centers as Democrats flipped 41 local measures.
In brief
Texas voters banned data centers as Democrats flipped 41 local measures. Texas voters banned data centers after Democrats won 41 local measures on property rights. Originally reported by Fortune.
Nov 3 midterms
Democrats won a blue tsunami with 7 Senate flips and 258 House seats.
Texas went blue
Democrats flipped Texas governor, agriculture commissioner, attorney general, and land commissioner.
Data centers on ballot
41 states voted on data center limits with 40 in favor.
Tocqueville’s democracy
Tocqueville wrote about property equality and popular authority in 1835.
Texas data center pipeline
Texas holds one-fifth of the planned 253-gigawatt data center pipeline.
Texas property rights
Texas voters opposed data centers with 57% saying no in August polls.
Tocqueville’s predictions
Tocqueville predicted Texas would shape American democracy by 1840.
Data center opposition
833 groups opposed data centers across 49 states by March 2026.
Texas growth
Texas added 391,243 residents and produced $2.9 trillion GDP in 2025.
Property fears
57% of Texas voters opposed data centers including 43% Republicans.
Tocqueville’s associations
Americans form local groups to protect property and equality.
Texas election results
Gina Hinojosa won Texas governor with 87-year-old Senfronia Thompson as speaker.
Data center impact
Data centers cost $6.3 billion on PJM grid with 46% of total capacity.
Tocqueville’s lesson
Americans protect property through local action when equality feels threatened.
At a glance
Texas voters banned data centers after Democrats won 41 local measures on property rights.
