Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly is putting two increasingly prominent Florida issues — the rapid expansion of data centers and the controversy surrounding Hope Florida — at the center of his campaign against Republican nominee Byron Donalds.
Jolly has pledged to impose a moratorium on new data-center construction if elected governor, arguing Florida should pause large-scale development until state leaders establish stronger protections for the environment, power grid, workforce and communities.
The former Republican congressman, now running as a Democrat, has also said he would reopen the investigation into the movement of $10 million in Medicaid settlement money through the Hope Florida Foundation and ultimately to political organizations.
Together, the positions give Jolly two avenues to challenge Donalds as the candidates compete in the Nov. 3 general election.
Jolly wants Florida to hit pause on data centers
Jolly first publicly called for a statewide halt to new data-center construction during the summer campaign.
He has argued that Florida does not yet have sufficient environmental, labor, privacy and security protections to accommodate a rapid expansion of massive facilities needed to power artificial-intelligence and cloud-computing systems.
The issue has since become more prominent in the governor’s race.
Jolly has also pledged to reopen scrutiny of the Hope Florida grand jury controversy, which has already emerged as an issue in Florida’s 2026 general election.
Public concern appears significant.
A University of North Florida poll released this summer found 68% of Floridians surveyed opposed construction of a new data center in their own community. Other surveys have also shown substantial opposition to new facilities.
Donalds has taken a different approach.
Rather than supporting a statewide moratorium, the Republican nominee has argued that Florida can accommodate data centers while protecting residents from higher utility costs and other consequences.
That difference gives voters a clear policy divide as artificial intelligence and the infrastructure required to support it become increasingly important political issues.
Hope Florida remains an election issue
Jolly is also promising renewed scrutiny of Hope Florida following the disclosure of a state grand jury report examining $10 million connected to a Medicaid settlement.
The money originated from a $67 million settlement between Florida and health care company Centene.
According to the leaked grand jury report, $10 million was transferred to the Hope Florida Foundation before eventually reaching political committees involved in the campaign against Florida’s 2024 recreational marijuana constitutional amendment.
The grand jury concluded that taxpayer money had been misused for political purposes but said there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.
The findings intensified scrutiny of Hope Florida, an initiative closely associated with First Lady Casey DeSantis.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and emphasized that the grand jury returned no indictments.
Jolly, however, has argued that unanswered questions remain and has pledged to order a new investigation if he becomes governor.
Donalds favors reforms rather than another investigation
Donalds has also described the grand jury’s findings as concerning, but he has stopped short of supporting Jolly’s call for another investigation.
Instead, Donalds has said Florida should strengthen laws governing the handling and distribution of state settlement money.
The grand jury itself recommended that money received by the state generally flow through the state treasury and legislative appropriations process, along with stronger safeguards governing how outside organizations handle taxpayer funds.
That leaves both gubernatorial nominees supporting changes following the controversy but sharply divided over whether Florida should investigate the matter again.
Two issues, one broader argument
For Jolly, the data-center and Hope Florida disputes fit into a broader campaign argument that Florida government needs stronger oversight.
His proposed data-center moratorium casts him as advocating a pause before major technology companies expand their footprint across the state.
His Hope Florida pledge, meanwhile, allows him to challenge the way state government handled millions of dollars outside the traditional appropriations process.
Donalds is offering a different argument: Florida can continue attracting investment while adopting safeguards, and the Hope Florida controversy should result in legislative reforms rather than another investigation.
As the governor’s race moves deeper into the general election, both issues could provide voters with increasingly clear differences between the two candidates.
The winner will succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cannot seek another consecutive term.
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