Florida governor candidate Jolly labels opponent 'data center Donalds' | Get the Facts
Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly is campaigning on a promise to enact a one-year moratorium on data centers in Florida if elected, while criticizing opponent Byron Donalds as being favorable to the industry. Donalds, a Republican, has received significant campaign contributions from tech and energy companies, but states he prioritizes local control and filed a bill to protect ratepayers from data center costs. Data centers have become a key campaign issue in the Florida governor's race.
The race for Florida governor in 2026 has brought data centers to the forefront as a campaign issue, with Democratic candidate David Jolly criticizing Republican Byron Donalds. Jolly, through a new advertisement, labels Donalds as "data center Donalds" and claims he would bring more large AI data centers to Florida, despite public polls suggesting high disapproval for such developments due to their extensive land, power, and water demands. Jolly has pledged that if elected, he would implement a one-year moratorium on data center construction.
Byron Donalds' campaign has received over $4.1 million from more than 225 donors in the tech, energy, and utility sectors, alongside a $5 million commitment from the "Leading the Future Super PAC." While Jolly's ad suggests Donalds made a pledge to build more data centers, fact-checking clarifies that Donalds' comments during a May 2025 interview at The Economic Club of Miami were taken out of context. Donalds actually discussed embracing growth in finance and tech, which would naturally lead to data centers, and the state's capacity to accommodate them while preserving its beauty.
Donalds' campaign emphasizes his commitment to "local control," stating that data centers would not be built in communities that oppose them. Furthermore, Donalds, who serves as a lawmaker for Florida's 19th Congressional District, has introduced the "Protecting Ratepayers Act," a bill intended to prevent consumers from bearing the costs associated with data center energy consumption. This highlights a nuanced stance from Donalds, balancing economic growth with community concerns and consumer protection, while Jolly takes a more direct opposition stance through a proposed moratorium.