Texas · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on energy and climate?
Ken PaxtonRepublican
James TalaricoDemocrat
Part of the full Texas U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Energy & Climate
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Ken Paxton
Supports permanently repealing the federal gas tax and increasing oil and gas production; his data center plan backs the DATA Act and ending Texas sales tax breaks for data centers.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposal
Supports a permanent repeal of the federal gas tax (18.4 cents per gallon in 2026) and keeping regulations low for the oil and gas industry, and has promised to increase American oil and gas production to lower prices. 2 sourcesTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · NewsPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalAug. 24, 2026
His August 2026 data center platform pledged to ban Chinese technology from U.S. data centers, backed Sen. Tom Cotton's DATA Act to let data centers build off-grid power systems exempt from most federal electricity regulation, and endorsed Gov. Greg Abbott's push to repeal the industry's state sales tax exemptions. 2 sourcesPaxton promises to ban Chinese technology and chatbots that endanger children in data center platform (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Aug. 24, 2026 · NewsPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal
Supports a permanent repeal of the federal gas tax (18.4 cents per gallon in 2026) and keeping regulations low for the oil and gas industry, and has promised to increase American oil and gas production to lower prices. 2 sourcesTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · NewsPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposalAug. 24, 2026
His August 2026 data center platform pledged to ban Chinese technology from U.S. data centers, backed Sen. Tom Cotton's DATA Act to let data centers build off-grid power systems exempt from most federal electricity regulation, and endorsed Gov. Greg Abbott's push to repeal the industry's state sales tax exemptions. 2 sourcesPaxton promises to ban Chinese technology and chatbots that endanger children in data center platform (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Aug. 24, 2026 · NewsPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
James Talarico
Supports an energy approach that includes oil, gas and renewables, a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax, and requiring data centers to pay for grid upgrades they need.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposal
Describes an “all-of-the-above” strategy that protects oil and gas jobs and grows wind, solar and geothermal; proposes reinstating federal tax credits that diversify energy production, streamlining energy permitting, expanding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and changing its formula for hot-climate states, and requiring large energy users such as AI data centers to cover their infrastructure costs. 2 sourcesJames Talarico on Energy, the Texas Grid & Utility Bills (opens in a new tab)Talarico for Texas · Jan. 2, 2026 · CampaignPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
Told The Texas Tribune he would suspend the federal gas tax until the war in Iran ends. 2 sourcesTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · NewsPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal
Describes an “all-of-the-above” strategy that protects oil and gas jobs and grows wind, solar and geothermal; proposes reinstating federal tax credits that diversify energy production, streamlining energy permitting, expanding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and changing its formula for hot-climate states, and requiring large energy users such as AI data centers to cover their infrastructure costs. 2 sourcesJames Talarico on Energy, the Texas Grid & Utility Bills (opens in a new tab)Talarico for Texas · Jan. 2, 2026 · CampaignPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 13, 2026
Told The Texas Tribune he would suspend the federal gas tax until the war in Iran ends. 2 sourcesTexas U.S. Senate 2026: Paxton, Talarico and Brown on the issues (opens in a new tab)The Texas Tribune · Oct. 13, 2026 · NewsPaxton and Talarico each promise relief from rising energy costs (opens in a new tab)Capital & Main, via The Texas Tribune · Oct. 18, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on energy and climate
Selected votes
Ken Paxton
H.B. 1223, sales and use tax exemption for data center property (83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013)
EnergyCreated a temporary state sales and use tax exemption for property used in qualifying data centers whose owners or operators create at least 20 qualifying jobs and invest at least $200 million over five years.
Passed the Texas Senate 23–8 on May 22, 2013; signed by the governor June 14, 2013; effective Sept. 1, 2013.
3 sources83(R) History for HB 1223 (opens in a new tab)Texas Legislature Online · Legislative record83(R) HB 1223 - Enrolled version - Bill Text (opens in a new tab)Texas Legislature Online · May 2013 · Legislative recordSenate Journal, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session (Wednesday, May 22, 2013) (opens in a new tab)Texas Senate · May 22, 2013 · Legislative recordVoted yesTexas Senate · May 22, 2013
On third reading and final passage
2 sourcesSenate Journal, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session (Wednesday, May 22, 2013) (opens in a new tab)Texas Senate · May 22, 2013 · Legislative record83(R) History for HB 1223 (opens in a new tab)Texas Legislature Online · Legislative record
James Talarico
No selected votes for this candidate
Something wrong or missing? Report an error