{"id":433315,"date":"2026-10-20T20:18:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T20:18:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/433315\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T20:18:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T20:18:12","slug":"democratic-candidates-denounce-donalds-for-data-center-contributions-news-sports-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/433315\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic candidates denounce Donalds for data center contributions | News, Sports, Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\t\t\t\tPhillip Carter, who is challenging State Rep. Vanessa Oliver for her office this November. NATHAN MAYBERG<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tJudy Freiberg, President of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida. NATHAN MAYBERG<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tVictor Arias, a Cape Coral attorney and candidate for Congress, denounces Congressman Byron Donalds for taking in donations from companies tied to data centers. NATHAN MAYBERG
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Victor Arias, a Cape Coral attorney and candidate for Congress, denounces Congressman Byron Donalds for taking in donations from companies tied to data centers. NATHAN MAYBERG<\/p>\n

A Democratic contender for Congress and a Democratic candidate for a State House seat brought the election battle to Cape Coral on Friday, standing just yards away from Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds\u2019 office in Cape Coral. They attacked Donalds for his closeness to companies connected to data centers, a growing political issue around the state and nation.<\/p>\n

Victor Arias, a Cape Coral lawyer running for Donalds\u2019 19th Congressional District seat that covers most of Lee and Collier counties, was joined by Phillip Carter, a retired Air Force officer who is running for the District 76 State House seat held by Republican Vanessa Oliver. <\/p>\n

Also speaking was Judy Freiberg, president of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida. <\/p>\n

Standing next to a \u201cData Center Donalds\u201d sign complete with an animated drawing of a data center billowing smoke, they warned of the threats they said data centers posed to the environment and the electricity bills of Florida residents. <\/p>\n

They warned that Donalds, the Republican candidate for governor, would do little to stop the centers and highlighted contributions Donalds has taken in from big energy companies and construction companies linked to data center projects. <\/p>\n

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Phillip Carter, who is challenging State Rep. Vanessa Oliver for her office this November. NATHAN MAYBERG<\/p>\n

The press conference sought to link Donalds to an explosive political issue that has resonated with voters increasingly concerned about privacy rights and the use of personal data by large corporations. Data centers also have alarmed environmental groups concerned about pollution as well as their large-scale land, electric and water usage. The large-scale use of electricity for the data centers, in some cases as much as it takes for thousands of homes, has become a major political issue nationwide amid the growth of artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n

Arias warned of rising electricity costs due to the high use of electricity from the data centers, some of which he said could be as large as several hundred football fields. This month, it was reported that Google cleared approximately 300 hectares of forest in Norway for a data center. That is the equivalent of several hundred football fields.<\/p>\n

Arias said there are already more than 100 data centers in Florida, and warned that more could be on the way if Donalds is elected governor. He said Donalds has accepted millions of dollars from companies connected to AI or data centers. Arias is concerned that there could be an attempt to allow data centers to skirt local land use regulations.<\/p>\n

Arias, who is facing Republican Jim Schwartzel for the seat being vacated by Donalds, also said the data centers could potentially pollute the water. <\/p>\n

\u201cHere in Southwest Florida, we rely on water,\u201d Arias said. <\/p>\n

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Judy Freiberg, President of the Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida. NATHAN MAYBERG<\/p>\n

He also said there would be constant noise from the buildings and the threat of a large-scale disaster if something goes wrong.<\/p>\n

Arias said he doesn\u2019t believe many people yet understand what data centers do. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe really don\u2019t understand what data centers are all about. We don\u2019t really understand what AI is all about,\u201d Arias said. \u201cWe still don\u2019t know their purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arias said he would vote for a moratorium of \u201cat least one year\u201d on data centers if elected to Congress.<\/p>\n

Carter, of Fort Myers, said data centers would be \u201ccatastrophic\u201d for Florida and also called for a moratorium. <\/p>\n

\u201cGreedy corporations have forced these wildly unpopular AI data centers into communities around the country and the consequences are immeasurable,\u201d Carter said. <\/p>\n

He said the data centers are increasing the cost of utility bills and threatening water quality.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Southwest Florida, where we have extensive farmland and beautiful coastlines, we know the aftermath would be disastrous,\u201d Carter said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we absolutely can\u2019t let Byron \u2018data center\u2019 Donalds anywhere near the governor\u2019s mansion. Donalds has made it clear to his AI mega donors that Florida is wide open to data centers on pristine land,\u201d Carter said. \u201cByron Donalds is not loyal to the millions of Floridians who are worried about the damage to our way of life and massive financial consequences from data centers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter said Donalds \u201cwas beholden to the AI developers who have pumped millions of dollars into his campaign. He couldn\u2019t care less that their data centers will devastate our home.\u201d <\/p>\n

Carter said \u201call Floridians deserve better than Donalds.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also said he believed Oliver would allow data centers in Florida. Carter noted that nearby De Soto County is currently the site of a proposed data center. According to a report in Suncoast Searchlight, the data center project proposal in De Soto County has grown from a 34-acre site to a project of more than 800 acres. That would make it one of the largest data center sites in the country. De Soto County is part of District 76, which Oliver represents in the State House.<\/p>\n

While both candidates must overcome a large voter registration deficit to Republicans, the press conference organized by the Democratic Party of Florida served as an attempt to bring attention as well to the campaign of David Jolly, who is challenging Donalds for the governorship being vacated by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Jolly has called for a moratorium on data centers.<\/p>\n

Freiberg warned of a scenario where data centers could proliferate if the proper regulations aren\u2019t enacted in the state. She said Donalds could appoint individuals at the state regulatory level who would not protect the environment and who could allow data centers to be built.<\/p>\n

Freiberg said that Donalds has taken in donations from the builders of data centers and big tech corporations. <\/p>\n

Some of the biggest contributors to Donalds\u2019 campaign have been energy companies such as Duke Energy and Nextera Energy Capital Holdings LLC, companies that provide energy and infrastructure for data centers. Another company seeking to build a data center in Florida has also donated to the campaign of Donalds. Ferrira Construction Company, another company that has been linked to data center projects, has also been one of the largest contributors to the campaign of Donalds. Teco Holdings, another company with data center links, is also one of the top contributors to the Donalds campaign.<\/p>\n

Jolly, on his campaign website, said he would call for a moratorium on hyperscale data centers in his first day in office. A spokesperson for Jolly\u2019s campaign pointed to a statement on Jolly\u2019s campaign website saying \u201cHis reasons are the strain on Florida\u2019s water, power, and natural resources; what these facilities do to the neighborhoods and property values around them; and serious questions about the long term economic payoff that he says have yet to be answered. He also says voters across Florida are telling their leaders they do not want data centers, and that leaders should listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frieberg said that data centers \u201care basically ruining human habitat. These data centers are going to hinder your ability to have clean water. Water is a finite commodity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Multiple messages left with Rep. Donalds\u2019 office and his campaign seeking comment were not returned.<\/p>\n


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