Cries of MAGA Investors! "Even Texas Turning Blue" - Tech Tycoons Disturbed by U.S. Midterm Elections, True Feelings Erupt on Social Media

Thinking they had moved to a politically comfortable place, they found the local voters chose a different future.

After the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, the reactions from some in the tech industry reflected such confusion.

On November 4, U.S. media Gizmodo introduced the statements of tech investors supporting Trump with strong irony. The main stage was Texas, where the Republican Party had long maintained an advantage.

However, dismissing this event as merely "billionaires complaining about losing an election" overlooks something important. It reveals the gap between the growth strategies envisioned by companies and what residents seek in their daily lives.

※The following is based on reports up to November 4, 2026, U.S. time. The reactions on social media are summaries of posts introduced in the original article and related reports and do not represent the opinions of all users.

Changes in the Republican Stronghold

In Texas, it was reported that Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in the federal Senate race, and Democrat Gina Hinojosa won against incumbent Greg Abbott in the governor's race.

According to local public radio KUT and others, it is the first time since 1988 that a Democratic candidate has won the federal Senate race in the state. The governorship will also shift to the Democrats for the first time in decades.

In the U.S., Republican dominance is represented by red, and Democratic dominance by blue. Therefore, the result is being described as "Texas turned blue."

However, while this expression is easy to understand as a headline conveying the shock of the election, it does not mean that the values of the entire state population changed overnight. This victory alone does not guarantee that Democrats will maintain an advantage in future elections.

Nevertheless, for those who have seen Texas as a Republican stronghold, it was an event that shattered conventional assumptions.

"It's Not My Fault"—The Confusion of Relocated Investors

One of the individuals highlighted by Gizmodo is Jason Calacanis, an investor and co-host of the podcast "All-In."

According to the original article, Calacanis, who moved from California to Texas in 2024, explained on election night that he voted for the Republican candidate, stating that he did not change Texas politics.

Related reports also introduced his dissatisfaction, noting that he did not expect the Democrats to gain an advantage and that he moved to escape leftist politics.

What stands out here is that political comfort, along with taxes and business environment, was part of the expectations for the relocation destination.

Of course, choosing a place to live based on politics or policy is not uncommon. The issue is that the politics of the place one moves to may not remain as desired.

A state is not a service purchased by companies. It is a place where diverse people live and choose their path anew with each election.

The Spread of Irony on Social Media and Calls for Adaptation

The original article mentions that Mike Solana of Founders Fund posted that if California politics were brought to Texas, it would become even more difficult to live in than California.

In response, Lydia Moynihan, a columnist for the New York Post, replied with irony, suggesting it would become like California without the appeal of beaches and good weather.

These remarks convey a sense of viewing both states as symbols not only of policy but also of lifestyle and values.

On the other hand, the tech industry's reaction was not entirely one of disappointment.

Gizmodo also introduced a positive message from Christian Garrett of 137 Ventures, who expressed a willingness to work with new political partners.

While some lamented the election results, others aimed to continue their business under the changed conditions. Lumping the "tech industry" together obscures these differences.

On social media, provocative words tend to stand out. However, the person who spoke the strongest words does not necessarily represent the entire industry.

Even Among the Victors, There Are Different Temperatures

The reactions from the Democratic side were not monolithic either.

Local media KSAT introduced a photo of Talarico and Hinojosa raising cups at the fast-food restaurant "Whataburger." It was posted by Talarico on social media, capturing a moment of post-election joy in a local setting.

Meanwhile, online reactions introduced by Gizmodo included expectations for strict pursuit of the billionaires who supported the Republicans and those mocking their defeat.

Additionally, according to the same article, some left-wing users expressed dissatisfaction with Democrat Hakeem Jeffries' stance of prioritizing achievements for the people over retaliation.

This highlights the challenges faced by the victors.

Among supporters, some want accountability for past actions to be the top priority. Meanwhile, others demand responses to immediate issues like prices and living costs.

Demanding accountability is not the same as desiring political retaliation. To evaluate post-election politics, it is necessary to see not only who is being pursued but also on what basis and through what procedures the verification is conducted.

Huge Political Funding Does Not Guarantee Public Opinion

Gizmodo reported that Elon Musk invested about $500 million in this midterm election and that some of his pro-Republican posts were deleted after the election results were revealed.

These are based on the original article's reporting, and this article does not independently verify the aggregation of political funds or the deletion history of posts.

What can be considered from this event is that great financial power does not necessarily align with the ability to achieve desired election outcomes.

Advertising and information dissemination can increase opportunities for candidates and issues to be known. However, they do not necessarily change the everyday dissatisfaction felt by voters.

Regulations and growth rates emphasized by investors may sometimes align with, or conflict with, the living costs and public services prioritized by voters.

However, it is not appropriate to conclude that "political funding was meaningless" based on this alone. It is not clear from this result how the election outcome would have changed without the funding.

What can be said is that massive support did not guarantee victory.

How to Interpret the Caution Towards AI

Another notable aspect of this report is voters' attitudes towards AI and data centers.

Gizmodo and the data center specialized media Data Center Dynamics introduced the following figures as an exit poll by NBC News.

• Respondents who believe AI brings more harm than benefits to society: 57%

• Respondents who believe AI brings more benefits than harm to society: 24%

• Respondents opposed to the construction of new data centers in their area: 76%

This article treats these as survey results reported by both media, as the original NBC survey form and entire questionnaire could not be directly confirmed.

What should be noted here is that the three numbers are responses to different questions.

The evaluation of AI's impact on society as a whole and the approval or disapproval of large facilities being built near one's home are not the same.

Even those who find AI convenient for work might oppose local facility plans. Conversely, those concerned about AI's social impact might support facility attraction under certain conditions.

"Whether to use AI," "whether to support the AI industry," and "whether to accept facilities in the region"—these three should be considered separately to avoid misreading residents' dissatisfaction.

The Question Between "Technological Progress" and "Regional Benefit"

In considering this election, the issue may lie more in the division of benefits and burdens than in simple approval or disapproval of technology.

When companies plan new facilities, terms like growth, investment, and employment are used. However, what the region wants to know is how those effects will specifically reach their lives.

What kind of jobs will be created locally? Who will bear the costs of facility and infrastructure development? How will the impact on the surrounding environment be confirmed, and who will respond if problems arise?

Without sufficient explanations to these questions, it is difficult to gain agreement with just the phrase "investment for the future."

This is not an explanation that specifies a single reason for voting in this election. It is a perspective to consider when thinking about opposition to elections and facilities.

In fact, Data Center Dynamics' report also lists issues such as government corruption, living costs, immigration policy, and war as points of contention, in addition to data centers.

Rather than summarizing the election results as "voters rejected AI," considering how the AI industry was viewed among multiple grievances may bring us closer to reality.

For Japan, It's Not Just a Distant Country's Argument

What Japanese readers can take from this event is not the party conflict in the U.S. itself, but the issue of how companies and regions face each other.

In scenes where AI-related facilities or large industrial bases are attracted, attention tends to focus on the size of the investment. However, what residents need to judge is not just that.

The ability to ask questions about the impact on life. The explanation of not only benefits but also burdens. The update of explanations when plans change. The ability to verify whether promises are being kept later.

These conditions form the foundation for people, even those not familiar with technology, to express their intentions about the future of the region.

Also, the sense of distance from politics is important. Having strong ties with a particular politician is not synonymous with being continuously trusted by the people of the region.

If the legitimacy of a business wavers as soon as the faces change in an election, it will be questioned how widely supported that plan was.

Post-Election, It's the Content of Explanations, Not the Size of Dissatisfaction, That Matters

On social media after the election, there were voices of disappointment, irony, joy, expectations for accountability, and calls for adaptation to the new environment.

Each reaction provides a clue to understanding the emotions immediately following the election. However, they alone do not reveal the merits of policies or the overall thoughts of voters.

What tech companies and investors will face in the future is the question of what those who did not support them were concerned about.

On the other hand, victorious politicians also have challenges. They need specific measures to improve lives while leveraging technology, not just gathering criticism of companies.

Those who invest money, those who create technology, and those who live near facilities each have different interests and concerns. These differences cannot be resolved simply by winning an election once.

What the change in Texas may have highlighted is the fundamental fact that no one person can decide the future.

Sources and References

1. Gizmodo: Refer to statements by Trump-supporting investors, reports on Musk, and reactions on social media.
   https://gizmodo.com/maga-tech-vcs-whine-like-babies-after-democratic-sweep-2000834927

2. KUT/The Texas Newsroom: Confirm results of Texas Senate and gubernatorial elections and the historical significance of the Democratic victory.
   https://www.kut.org/texas/2026-11-03/texas-nov-midterm-statewide-election-results

3. Data Center Dynamics: Article introducing NBC News exit poll. Refer to descriptions of AI's social impact, approval or disapproval of regional data center construction, and election issues. Based on reporting by the same media, not direct confirmation of the survey form.
   https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/nbc-exit-poll-56-say-ai-data-centers-were-a-crucial-or-major-factor-in-congressional-vote-decision/

4. KSAT: Local report introducing Talarico and Hinojosa celebrating their victory at Whataburger and Talarico's social media post.
   https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/11/04/talarico-and-hinojosa-celebrate-historic-texas-wins-with-a-whataburger-toast/

5. AOL article: Introduced tech-related reactions to Texas election results. Used for supplementary confirmation of Calacanis's relocation and dissatisfaction with political changes.
   https://www.aol.co.uk/articles/texas-just-went-blue-tech-063955000.html