Data center construction is unpopular among locals, and a majority of the facilities are being proposed in red, rural counties. That puts Texas Republicans in a tough spot, as the White House has encouraged states to let the centers flourish.

House members who freeze future legislation by fleeing Texas will face steeper fines, loss of seniority and committee posts, and limits on political fundraising.

Democrats are arguing that a Republican plan for redrawing districts in Texas to create more winnable U.S. House seats for the GOP is an attack on Black and Hispanic voters.

At the first of at least seven hearings, members of the public aired grievances about the unusual mid-decade redistricting effort.

Texas Democrats on Thursday slammed the GOP's unusual push to redraw the state's House maps to win more seats ahead of the 2026 elections.

The average age of Texans last year was 37, while the Legislature’s average age was 55. Hurdles to voting and the unique challenges young candidates encounter fuel the mismatch.