A proposed data center roughly 26 kilometers from Mar-a-Lago, near the northern edge of the Everglades, has brought development and environmental concerns into Florida’s gubernatorial contest. The wetlands are a sensitive ecosystem, and the project has prompted concern among residents about the prospect of large data centers being built near their homes.
Republican candidate Byron Donalds, who is backed by Donald Trump, has said he supports welcoming data center investment to Florida. Some of the proposed project’s backers are also donors to Donalds. His Democratic opponent, David Jolly, has pledged a one-year pause on construction of new data centers.
The issue is resonating with some younger voters. Mariela Vincenza, 24, said she had already voted for Democrats and believed environmental concerns were motivating many of her peers to vote. She urged voters who are worried about the Everglades not to stay home or support candidates who would allow the project to proceed.
Donalds is favored to succeed fellow Republican Ron DeSantis, who cannot seek another term after serving two terms. However, Jolly remains competitive: on the eve of the vote, polls put Donalds’ average lead at around four percentage points, while some surveys showed the race nearly tied.
Sources: ANSA Mondo.