Mission: Texas
Ep. 45: Vikki Goodwin on Data Centers, THC, and the Fight to Unseat Dan Patrick
Texas Lieutenant Governor nominee Vikki Goodwin returns to Mission: Texas ahead of the general election to talk about her statewide campaign against Dan Patrick. Vikki breaks down why the data center boom has become the surprise unifying issue of the cycle — driving up water and electric bills, spiking rents in cities like Abilene, and pulling even rural Republicans into the fight for regulation. She lays out her plans for childcare and early childhood education, her healthcare proposal to cover the five million uninsured Texans in the state, and why she believes the THC industry should be legalized and regulated rather than banned. Vikki also digs into the fight over religious liberty and the Ten Commandments in public schools, the power of the Lieutenant Governor's office in Texas, and the voter suppression fight unfolding in Tarrant County ahead of Election Day. Plus: Vikki shares the joy of becoming a first-time grandmother, Kate's daughter heads into public school pre-K for the first time, and Alex gets a clean bill of health at the dermatologist. What we cover: Vikki's statewide travel since winning her primary and what she's hearing from voters in every corner of Texas Why data centers have become the rallying issue of the election — water, electric costs, and housing prices in places like Abilene Dan Patrick's rural-only moratorium and why Vikki calls it political theater Affordability pressures on Texas families: groceries, gas, childcare, and rent Vikki's plan for early childhood education and childcare, including lessons from New Mexico's program The fight over religious liberty, the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and the ongoing voucher lawsuit How much real power the Lieutenant Governor holds over the Texas budget and legislative agenda Vikki's healthcare plan: Medicaid-Medicare reimbursement parity, a state-run insurance option, and mobile clinics The economic and medical case for legalizing and regulating THC in Texas Comparing the 2026 map to 2018, and what it will take to flip the Texas Senate Voter suppression concerns in Tarrant County, including the proposed closure of nearly half its polling locations How to get involved with Vikki's campaign and other down-ballot races through Mobilize and Texas Together Love what we're doing? Become a member at patreon.com/missiontexaspodcast — just a few dollars a month keeps independent Texas media alive. And if you can't spare the cash, a five-star review goes just as far. God bless Texas.
