Is GOP losing its grip on Texas races? Abbott, Scott dismiss doubts

GOP Leaders Push Back on Doubts in Texas

As questions mount over whether Republicans can hold Texas in upcoming races, Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Tim Scott took to the national airwaves Sunday to dismiss concerns. Abbott appeared on ABC's This Week, while Scott, who leads Senate Republicans' campaign operation, spoke on NBC's Meet the Press. Both offered variations of the same message: when Texans confront the choice on the ballot, Republicans will win.

Abbott said voters would side with Republican "common sense" over Democratic "crazy." Scott targeted Democrat James Talarico, the party's U.S. Senate hopeful, saying he is "out of step" with Texans. Scott predicted a Republican victory, declaring "we will keep Texas red to the roots."

Data Centers Take Center Stage

Both leaders also confronted the growing political debate over data centers, which has become a flashpoint in Texas and across the country. Abbott defended his decision to halt approvals for new data center projects requiring connections to the ERCOT grid, pending an audit. The audit requires developers to provide information on electricity and water use, tax incentives, ownership, and efforts to mitigate effects on local communities.

President Donald Trump has called the pause a "mistake," but Abbott said Texas's independent power grid demands a different approach. "We have created a structure that's going to do more than any state to solve the problem," he said.

Abbott told ABC's Jonathan Karl that developers brought the backlash on themselves by moving too quickly and failing to win community support. "They basically dug their own grave for the problem that's been caused for them," he said.

Scott agreed that data centers should be built only in communities that want them and should "pay their own way" for electricity and water. He added that they are critical to keeping the United States ahead of China in AI.

Abbott's Democratic opponent for governor, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin, has accused him of "flip-flopping on data centers for political points" after he previously touted Texas as a potential hub of the AI industry.

Talarico Accuses Paxton of AI-Generated Plan

In a separate development Monday, Talarico accused Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton of using AI to illustrate a plan to address data centers if he wins the Senate race in November.

Paxton released a "Texas First Data Center Plan" on X on Monday, immediately drawing responses from people accusing him of using AI to create it. The plan proposes barring Chinese technology in data centers and creating criminal penalties for AI-related child endangerment. It also calls for rolling back tax incentives and requiring data centers to pay for their own infrastructure.

Talarico's campaign responded with a statement saying Paxton had failed to respond to what voters want.

"Ken Paxton has taken nearly half a million dollars from the data center industry, voted to flood Texas with data centers by giving them billions in tax handouts, and has refused to use his power as attorney general to respond to Texans' requests to block data center development in their communities," Talarico said. "Now he's scared his ties to big data center companies will lose him the election, so he's making a sad attempt to reverse course by releasing a plan he literally used AI to make. Texans can't afford a Senator who's bought by big data center companies. Texans can't afford Ken Paxton's corruption."

Paxton said in his X post that his plan puts Texas first. "My Texas First Data Center Plan will protect our grid, our communities, and our children while ensuring America beats Communist China in the AI race," he said. The plan also includes federal legislation to bar Chinese technology in American data centers.

Senate Race Tightens

The Senate contest has grown increasingly competitive. Talarico has polled ahead of Paxton in a number of surveys, and both Cook Political Report and Fox News have moved the race to "tossup." Paxton won a primary against John Cornyn, while no Texas Democrat has won a statewide office since 1994.

When asked on Sunday about Paxton's character, Scott did not offer an affirmative defense, instead focusing on criticizing Talarico. Abbott predicted voters would reject Talarico in the Senate race.

Abbott on Trump, Succession, and His Own Future

Abbott declined to grade Trump on the economy but said the president "is on a track to get us there." He said it is too early to name a successor for 2028, mentioning JD Vance and Marco Rubio as potential candidates. Abbott did not rule out a possible presidential bid and joked about running for a fifth, sixth, or seventh term as governor.