Edinburg, TX (KRGV) — Two Texas U.S. Senate candidates took part in separate forums in the Rio Grande Valley this week hosted by the United States Hispanic Business Council.

Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico each addressed questions on immigration, data centers, and water.

Talarico appeared virtually at the forum at UTRGV on Wednesday after coming down with the flu. Paxton appeared at a similar forum earlier in the week.

On immigration, Paxton said border security comes first before any workforce solutions.

"Fundamentally we have to make sure we secure the border first, and if it gets unsecure, then the rest of the deal is off," Paxton said. "As long as we have a secure border, as long as we're doing this by the rule of law, I'm open to having help. We need help, but let’s do it the right way."

Talarico proposed a long-term solution for people in the country illegally.

"I think we have to create a pathway to citizenship for the folks that are here, who are law-abiding, who are contributing, who have been here for years and decades," Talarico said. "A Texas-based guest worker program could be a huge deal for the businesses in our state, and I think that's the kind of common-sense approach most people want."

On data centers, which have become a point of debate in Cameron County, Paxton said they should be self-sustaining.

"If you're going to build a data center, you have to generate enough of your own power," Paxton said. "You can't take electricity off the grid so that other people are having to basically pay higher rates. The same thing is true of water."

"Do these things need to be built in a neighborhood? I think there can be some negotiation. There's plenty of open space in Texas," Paxton said.

Talarico said communities should have more of a say in data center projects.

"If the data center company can’t meet the demands of the community or where it operates, if they can’t pay for their own energy, if they can’t pay for their own water, if they can’t get consent and the input of the people who live in these communities, then they shouldn't be built," Talarico said.

On water levels at area lakes, both candidates said they want to put pressure on Mexico.

"I think we can bring pressure to bear on Mexico with other potential means, whether it's through trade or whatever," Paxton said. "They need us as much or more than we need them. Use that to make them honor what they have said they would do.”

"We should use our diplomatic leverage and lean on our trade relationship to ensure that Mexico, our neighbor, is upholding its part of our water treaty agreement," Talarico said.

The first day of early voting is Monday, Oct. 19. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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