# Byron Donalds and Data Centers

> Florida governor candidate Byron Donalds supports data centers and owns stocks tied to their growth.
- Title: Byron Donalds and Data Centers · Mother Jones | Shortify
- Summary: Florida governor candidate Byron Donalds supports data centers and owns stocks tied to their growth.
- Keywords: byron darnold, seahawks, seattle, nfl, Byron, Donalds, Data, Centers, Mother Jones
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/byron-donalds-is-pro-data-centers-so-is-his-stock-portfolio
- Author: Laura C. Morel
- Published: 2026-10-15T11:01:05+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: byron darnold, seahawks, seattle, nfl
## Byron Donalds supports data centers
Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida's Republican gubernatorial candidate, has been enthusiastic about data centers throughout his campaign.

> We have actual land in our state that is still pristine, available to use
## Donalds dismisses data center bans
Donalds claims there are no bans coming for data centers, saying it sounds good on TV or social media.

> There ain't no bans coming
## Erika Donalds backs AI education
Erika Donalds, his wife and education chair for America First Policy Institute, says teachers are the biggest obstacle to AI in schools.

> The biggest challenge I see with adopting these new technologies and the desire to ban them
## Donalds owns $390,000 in data center stocks
Byron Donalds and his wife own up to $390,000 in stocks connected to data center companies like Microsoft and Amazon.
## Erika Donalds earns from X Corp
Erika Donalds earned income from X Corp., owned by Elon Musk, who endorsed her husband in November.

> X pays creators like her a share of ad revenue based on engagement with their content
## Donalds uses broker for investments
Donalds says his broker manages his stocks because he gave the authority to do so, not because he chooses the stocks.

> My broker does it on my behalf because I gave him that authority and that authorization when I opened up the accounts
## Ethics concerns over conflicts
Campaign Legal Center says Donalds could face conflicts of interest if his official decisions benefit companies he invests in.

> A claim that an official is not involved in the day-to-day trading of their stocks does not in any way remove the conflict of interest or the ethical issues
## Donalds violated STOCK Act
Donalds failed to disclose up to $1.6 million in stock trades, violating the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act.
## Data centers threaten voters
Residents in Citrus and Sarasota counties say data center expansion threatens their communities and could sway election outcomes.

> Everything for this election, for me, is based on the data centers at this point
## Key takeaway

Florida governor candidate Byron Donalds backs data centers and holds $390,000 in stocks linked to data center companies.