TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Ahead of Florida’s primary elections, data centers are everywhere: in blistering AI-created political ads, campaign promises from both parties and at the forefront of voters’ minds.
It’s especially pertinent in the Sunshine State, which has yet to see a major hyperscale project after community-led opposition has stalled proposals — or even scuttled them entirely — in several counties. Data centers have now penetrated many campaigns in the state, from the race for the governor’s mansion to small-town city councils. Tuesday’s elections will be the first major test for the growing opposition movement, as well as for how much weight voters are really placing on the issue.
The subject practically didn’t exist during the last major election cycle in 2024. But the AI industry’s booming growth and a rising wave of public worry over data centers’ hulking size, electricity use and environmental impact has quickly elevated their development as a major political issue.
“We were looking right directly at one in our county, and people were really alarmed by that,” said Cheryl Curtiss, a community organizer with the group No Data Centers Citrus County. “So I do think it’s really a key in this election.”
