Republican, U.S. Representative for Florida's 19th district
Now: U.S. Representative, District 19 since 2021 verified October 12, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
On your ballot Governor, Florida (certified list (opens in a new tab), verified October 9, 2026)
Photo: United States Congress, public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons (opens in a new tab), cropped.
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Of 32 statements on the record, 9 were for data centers, 8 raised concerns about data centers and 15 carry no label.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
Position History: Chronological record of positions across sourced statements.
- · Supports · Yahoo
- · Raises concern · Time Magazine
- · Supports · The Miami Times
- · Supports · The Miami Times
- · Supports · The Miami Times
- · Raises concern · The Miami Times
- · Raises concern · WFIN
- · Supports · Florida Politics
- · Supports · Orlando Sentinel
- · Supports · WUSF Public Media
- · Raises concern · Creative Loafing Tampa
- · Supports · Tampa Bay 28
- · Raises concern · Tampa Bay 28
- · Raises concern · SuaraGarut.ID
- · Raises concern · baynews9.com
- · Raises concern · baynews9.com
- · Supports · FOX 13 Tampa Bay
What they said
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Donalds said data centers must build closed loop systems on site that recycle water rather than continuously drawing from the aquifer.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 15, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
-
Byron Donalds said data centers should use reclaimed water from water treatment plants instead of fresh water.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: October 15, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
-
Byron Donalds opposes a statewide moratorium or ban on data center construction
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 13 Tampa Bay (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "banning or stalling data center construction sends a dangerous signal to the business community that Florida is closed to capital investment".
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Byron Donalds stated Florida state law will keep utility rates in check and prevent utility bills from increasing due to data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 27, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Yahoo (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
Byron Donalds, Republican gubernatorial candidate, supports data center development and said state commissioned study due back June 1, 2027.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 22, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- NBC 6 South Florida (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Byron Donalds expressed support for letting local governments decide whether to construct data centers.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- islandernews.com (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. The two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source held it.
-
Byron Donalds pledged to investigate the effects data centers would have on Florida communities if elected
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- baynews9.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "if elected he would follow through on an ongoing effort to investigate the affects data centers would have on Florida communities".
-
Byron Donalds supports local governments making their own decisions about data center developments
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- baynews9.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "adding that if elected he would follow through on an ongoing effort to investigate the affects data centers would have on Florida communities".
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Byron Donalds, Republican candidate for Florida governor, said decisions about data centers should be left to local governments
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- FOX 35 Orlando (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words support none. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Byron Donalds voted in May 2025 for House measure containing 10 year moratorium on state and local AI regulations, provision later removed by Senate
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- SuaraGarut.ID (opens in a new tab), international outlet
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. Both readings of the statement held it.
-
Byron Donalds supports Florida SB 484 requiring data centers to cover service costs and utilize reclaimed water
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- SuaraGarut.ID (opens in a new tab), international outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "emphasizing his support for state legislation (SB 484) requiring data centers to cover their own service costs and utilize reclaimed water".
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Byron Donalds in June 2025 said the future of Florida will be important for data centers and power as critical things for the state
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 16, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- WUSF Public Media (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "the future of Florida will be important for data centers and power as critical things for the state".
-
Byron Donalds voted in May 2025 for the U.S. House's version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included a 10 year moratorium on enforcement of state or local regulations for artificial intelligence models
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 16, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Phoenix (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
Label rationale: No label: the words are not clearly the speaker's own. The two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source held it.
-
Byron Donalds expressed strong support for Florida state law SB 484 regulating data centers pushed by Governor Ron DeSantis
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 16, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Creative Loafing Tampa (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Donalds has expressed strong support for a state law ( SB 484 ) regulating data centers pushed by Gov. Ron DeSantis".
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Byron Donalds warned that a statewide freeze on data centers could drive investment elsewhere and opposes a moratorium.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 16, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Tampa Bay 28 (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Capital goes where it's valued".
-
Byron Donalds supports keeping data centers away from homes and using cooling technology that conserves water, including systems that recirculate water or use air cooling.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 16, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Tampa Bay 28 (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Donalds supports keeping facilities away from homes and using cooling technology that conserves water, including systems that recirculate water or use air cooling.".
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Byron Donalds introduced federal legislation called the Protecting Ratepayers Act requiring commercial data centers consuming five megawatts or more to generate their own off grid power
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 15, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Hoodline (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
Byron Donalds, GOP gubernatorial candidate, supports building AI data centers and hyperscale data centers in Florida
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 11, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Orlando Sentinel (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "reiterated his support for building AI infrastructure — including new data centers".
-
Byron Donalds says data center industry donations do not influence his policy positions
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 10, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Donalds says data centers are essential to commercial space race and national security
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 10, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Donalds advocates for local control on data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 10, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Yahoo (opens in a new tab), national outlet
- FOX 13 Tampa Bay (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- FOX 13 Tampa Bay (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "local governments will maintain control over data centers in Florida and utility bills will not increase".
-
Rep. Byron Donalds introduced legislation requiring large AI data centers to generate their own power and water rather than draw from public utilities
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 3, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- WFIN (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "requiring large AI data centers to generate their own power and water rather than draw from public utilities".
-
Byron Donalds said regarding data centers: We are wide open. We have actual land in this state that is still pristine, available to use
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Miami Times (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "We are wide open. We have actual land in this state that is still pristine, available to use".
-
Byron Donalds argued that data stored in Florida is more secure than data warehoused in other states or foreign countries
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Miami Times (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "data stored in Florida is more secure than data warehoused in other states or foreign countries".
-
Byron Donalds advocated for small modular nuclear reactors and closed loop water filtration systems as part of data center builds
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Miami Times (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "advocated for small modular nuclear reactors and closed loop water filtration systems as part of data center builds".
-
Byron Donalds stated if elected Governor he would respect local bans on data center facilities
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Miami Times (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "if elected Governor he would respect local bans on data center facilities".
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Byron Donalds spent more than $2 million on advertising in his primary promising to protect Florida from data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: August 25, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Time Magazine (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "promising to protect Florida from data centers".
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Rep. Byron Donalds introduced the Protecting Ratepayers Act to ensure private developers bear investment costs of data center developments
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- CNBC (opens in a new tab), national outlet
-
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds claimed SB 484 ensures utility rates will not go up due to data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: August 15, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Yahoo (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "SB 484 ensures utility rates will not go up due to data centers".
-
Byron Donalds filed the federal Protecting Ratepayers Act to require data centers to draw on alternative sources for power and water.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: July 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Byron Donalds has advocated for small modular nuclear reactors and micronuclear reactors and closed loop water filtration systems as part of data center builds.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: July 21, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
-
Donalds filed message legislation called the Protecting Ratepayers Act in summer 2026 to require data centers to draw on alternative sources for power and water.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: June 1, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Florida Politics (opens in a new tab), local outlet
2 statements on file were labeled and are left out of the counts.
Where we looked
- the Congressional Record: checked October 19, 2026, nothing found; not read: no govinfo key on file
- the official office website (donalds.house.gov (opens in a new tab)): checked October 19, 2026, nothing found
How they voted
1 vote on data center measures: 0 in favor of data centers, 1 against.
| Measure | Roll call | What they did |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. 9340: Ratepayer Protection Act | U.S. House of Representatives, September 16, 2026 | Voted yes on a measure that limited data centers against |
Bill data from LegiScan (opens in a new tab), licensed CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab). The record chooses the bills, writes each stage in its own words and cites the legislature's own page for every bill.
Others in this race
- David Jolly Democratic · Governor · the race page
- Frank J. Russo No party affiliation · Governor · the race page
- Dean Ocean Abrams No party affiliation · Governor · the race page
- Charles Burkett No party affiliation · Governor · the race page
- Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto No party affiliation · Governor · the race page
- Moliere "Moe" Dimanche No party affiliation · Governor · the race page
- Scott Eckhard Jewett Libertarian · Governor · the race page
Something missing?
Know a sourced statement by Byron Donalds on data centers that is not here? Send the link. It goes to the record's inbox as a card routed to this person and publishes only after it is read against its source.
Are you Byron Donalds or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.
Data Center Record, "Public statements by Byron Donalds", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/byron-donalds, last verified October 20, 2026.
Reusing this page
The structured rows are CC BY-NC 4.0. Link to this page; that is what turns a reuse into a citation. Prose stays under copyright.
Last verified: October 12, 2026.