WESH39%
Byron Donalds rejects data centers while cashing in AI contributions | Get the Facts 31%
By Greg Fox36%
7/24/2026, 2:40:00 PM
Keywords: Donalds, Datum Center, Byron Donalds, Governor, Florida, Power, President Trump, Water Resource, Gov Desantis, People, Pac, Utility, Friends, Ratepayer, Wesh
BS Summary: This article contains 19 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Authority, Fundamental Attribution Error, and Biased Writer Voice, with Negativity Bias as the most egregious example at 15.5% saturation with 82 hits. Analysis detected 670 faulty-reasoning hits from 528 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 35.4% and a BS Rank of 31% (17,999 of 26,004 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 69.20% of the article peer group.
Republican candidate for governor and South Florida congressman Byron Donalds said during an interview on June 26 that he wants to “make sure that we're protecting power and that we're protecting water resources for the future of Florida and for the people of Florida.”
In an ad from his political action committee, Friends of Byron Donalds, he says, "You don't want to pay for A.I.
Data Centers, and when I'm Governor, you won't.
He adds, "I stand with President Trump and Gov.
DeSantis to protect Florida families and communities from data centers."
He says those things while collecting millions of dollars in campaign contributions from the very companies that either build or support A.I. data centers.
Let's Get the Facts, first by making sure you understand what Donalds is talking about: A.I.
Data Centers.
Unlike the one that local drivers pass along I-4 in Eatonville, which is being constructed by HostDime and will handle data storage and web hosting, A.I. data centers are massive facilities.
The huge complexes process mountains of information.
But those computing demands need lots of land, power, and water.
Does Donalds stand with President Trump and Gov.
DeSantis on A.I. data centers?
For now, we'll call that a fact.
Donalds is endorsed by the president, and on May 7, DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 484, a measure that prohibits utilities from passing along data center costs to ratepayers.
Donalds is also borrowing the president's “Ratepayer Protection Pledge,” released March 4, saying in his television ad, "I'll fight for a ratepayer protection plan, because in my Florida, if you don't protect our pocketbooks and our people, you won't build data centers."
But can voters believe Donalds?
The answer to that question is unknown.
While he filed a bill on July 20 that would require data centers to get their power and water from private sources, Democratic candidate David Jolly claims Donalds is bought and paid for by the tech and utility industries.
NBC reported in February the following headline: "Super PAC backed by A.I.
Titans pledges $5-million to Boost Byron Donalds’ Run For Governor."
It notes, "Donalds is the first candidate for Governor in the country to win support from Leading The Future (PAC)”… a committee which is funded by data center executives.
Donalds' own PAC, Friends of Byron Donalds, has gotten big checks from A.I.-connected businesses: $1 million from Florida Power and Light parent, NextEra… Duke Energy, half a million dollars... and from TECO Holdings, $275,000.
Donalds' campaign spokesperson Gates McGavick told WESH 2 News, "There is no conflict.
Byron answers to no one other than the people of Florida.
He is leading the fight to protect Floridians: if there are no ratepayer and environmental protections, then no data centers."
The bottom line:
Donalds said June 26, “We're not going to let utility rates go up.”
Primary voters in the Aug. 18 election will have to decide if they believe him.
Also on the ballot in the GOP primary for governor are investor James Fishback, Florida Lt.
Gov.
Jay Collins, and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, among others.
Analysis
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