Democrats try to harness data center backlash that's dividing rural Republicans in places like Texas

Democrats are leveraging rural opposition to data centers in Texas and other states, positioning the issue as a threat to rural life and water resources. The backlash against energy-intensive data centers is influencing statewide campaigns, with candidates like Texas gubernatorial nominee Gina Hinojosa and Ohio Senate candidate Sherrod Brown criticizing their impact. The issue is splitting conservative rural areas and challenging Republican dominance in states like Texas, where data center growth is projected to surge.