Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's bid for a fourth term is running into some unexpected resistance from the voters he has always depended upon.
The Republican is "bleeding support" in small towns and rural areas due to two emerging issues: data center expansion and a planned $33 billion electric transmission project, Politico reported Wednesday.
The "pushback against Abbott points to larger fears" about preserving rural identity, as well as practical worries regarding construction, pollution, and the availability of water and electricity resources, according to the report.
Shawn Nanny, a Republican county commissioner in West Texas, characterized data centers and power line projects as the "straws that broke the camel's back" for Abbott and other Texas GOP leaders in a recent interview.
Some longtime conservatives are now considering voting for a Democrat in November's gubernatorial election. Abbott's August directive to pause data center grid approvals have not fully calmed their concerns.
"They understand the repercussions of that, but you know what I'm hearing is, 'Yeah, we'll have a Democrat in there and grit our teeth and bear it, but hopefully we'll come out of it the following election,'" Nanny explained. "They're so upset; they just want him out."
Jim Henson, executive director of the Texas Politics Project, noted that rural voters feel they bear the burden of industrial expansion and oppose the data center projects.
According to Politico, Texas has not elected a Democratic governor in more than 35 years, but analysts say Abbott cannot afford significant losses in rural support. Recent polls from Texas A&M University and Fox News showed Abbott with just a 1 percentage point lead over Democratic challenger state Rep. Gina Hinojosa.
Polling from the nonpartisan Texas Politics Project showed Abbott's approval rating among rural voters declined alarmingly from 63 percent in 2018 to 48 percent in 2026.
Abbott's campaign stated the governor is committed to protecting the livelihoods, property, resources and quality of life of rural Texans.