State Senate District 31 · Texas
The NAACP sent every candidate on your ballot the same questions, whatever office they are running for. The NAACP wrote the options, so each one appears below once, with everyone who chose it. Candidates who wrote their own answer instead are shown in their own words, exactly as submitted.
Who is on your ballot
Where this race is held
The map shows Texas State Senate District 31, the same outline for every candidate in this race, and the data centers tracked inside it.
- Tracked data centers
- 12
- 4 proposed · 3 approved or building · 5 operating
- People in the district
- 911,777
- 2020 Census
- Black residents
- 54,629
- 6% of the district
Estimates from 2020 Census county counts, shared out by how much of each county a ring covers. Where rings overlap, people are counted once. Black residents means Black alone or in combination (2020 Census).
Add your address, city or ZIP code in the location bar to see how close you live to these sites and whether you live in this area.
People living near these data centers
Counting people near 12 sites…
Estimates from 2020 Census county counts, shared out by how much of each county a ring covers. Where rings overlap, people are counted once. Black residents means Black alone or in combination (2020 Census).
How we count, and why these distances
Estimates. 2020 Census county counts, shared out by how much of each county a ring covers, so they assume people are spread evenly within a county. Black residents = Black alone or in combination. Where rings overlap, people are counted once. Cancelled sites are left out.
Their answers
Disclosure
Before a data center is approved, what should the public be entitled to know about it?
The end user/tenant, what the facility will power, and who it serves
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
The operator and general use category, with business specifics allowed to stay proprietary
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Whatever the company chooses to disclose
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Cost allocation
When a data center requires grid or infrastructure upgrades, who should bear the cost?
The data center, through dedicated rates or direct payment
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
A defined split between the company and ratepayers
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Ratepayers and the utility, as with other large customers
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Tax incentives
How should tax abatements or incentives for data centers be handled?
Disclosed in full and approved by public vote before any agreement
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Negotiated by staff, then disclosed once finalized
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Negotiated confidentially to stay competitive with other jurisdictions
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Accountability
If a data center fails to meet conditions set during approval or operation, what response do you favor?
Revoke or withhold permits and approvals
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Enforce the penalties already written into the permit
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Resolve it cooperatively before considering formal action
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Pace
What is the right pace for data center development in your community?
Pause new approvals until local standards and protections are in place
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Approve case by case under current rules
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Approve quickly to capture any investment
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Water (supply and quality)
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on water?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that water impacts do not change the quantity and quality considerably, if it can't, the project is denied
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Approve through standard permitting unless the impact breaks an existing law or standard
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Land and farmland
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on land and farmland?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that the land impacts do not significantly disrupt current land use, and stays within an acceptable limit as defined by constituents, if it can't, the project is denied
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Approve through standard permitting unless the impact breaks an existing law or standard
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Air quality and emissions
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on air quality?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that air impacts stay within acceptable limits, based on the current understanding of air quality and the changes the project will make, if it can't, the project is denied
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Approve through standard permitting unless the impact breaks an existing law or standard
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Noise
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact from noise?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that noise impacts stay within acceptable limits for a typical resident, if it can't, the project is denied
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Approve through standard permitting unless the impact breaks an existing law or standard
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Which approach do you support for a proposed data center's impact on community character and quality of life?
The company must prove, through public hearing, comment, and independent research, that these impacts will not broadly disrupt current enjoyment of residents, if it can't, the project is denied
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Approve through standard permitting unless the impact breaks an existing law or standard
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Disaster accountability
Scientists have found the increase in extreme disasters like wildfires and floods are in fact created by polluting and negligent industries, so how would you hold them accountable for the costs?
The company must pay for their costs that are associated with increases in climate-related disasters in the area
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Ensure that the state creates a fund to allow industries to pay into a fund for disaster mitigation, if they choose to
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Ensure increased reporting to survey disaster concerns and utilize existing processes for emergency management
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Recovery aid equity
What would you do to ensure that government recovery aid is based on people's need for support, rather than who has wealth and influence?
There must be additional reporting and appeal mechanisms for discrimination in recovery aids at the state and local levels
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Increase reporting mechanisms to communities to highlight aid assistance in different places
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Utilize existing structures for recovery and hold a hearing to weigh any additional evidence for change
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Clean energy access
What would you do to ensure communities have reliable access to cheaper and cleaner energy choices?
Wind down fossil fuel use and invest in renewable energy projects
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Invest in more renewable and clean energy projects, if the overall investments make sense
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Discuss options with companies and compare whether the projects are viable options before committing to new energy choices
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Disaster resilience
What will you do to keep the lights on, the water running, and the roads open before a disaster strikes rather than just responding after?
Ensure comprehensive and culturally-sensitive disaster cycle planning as well as increasing staffing for emergency management operations
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Hold a public hearing to weigh what the priorities are and decide which infrastructure project should be considered most important for disaster planning
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Support existing disaster management planning efforts and increase transparency, if necessary
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
Energy affordability
Given the rising price of energy and the number of people trading off rent and food for utility bills, how do we give everyone the dignity of being able to afford their energy bills?
Ensure that companies pay more into rising utility costs, bring only renewable energy sources, as well as carefully deliberate each new large load energy project to ensure it is an actual benefit to communities
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Hold a public hearing and weigh the evidence case by case, with no presumption for or against changing any existing utility actions
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Support existing utility infrastructure decisions and increase transparency regarding those decisions
No candidate on your ballot chose this option.
Has not responded yet: BETANCOURT, JOHN (Democrat); SPARKS, KEVIN (Republican)
How candidates are presented
Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name within each race, never ordered or coloured by party, and presented the same way whether or not they answered. Party is shown for everyone in the same treatment. Linking to a campaign website is not an endorsement.
How we keep this nonpartisan
