Ron DeSantis built his reputation on fighting woke corporations and putting Florida families first.
But his likely successor just went a completely different direction on a critical issue.
And Byron Donalds broke with Ron DeSantis on one technology issue that has Florida Republicans picking sides.
Donalds Embraces AI Revolution While DeSantis Sounds Alarm
U.S. Representative Byron Donalds, the front-runner in Florida's 2026 gubernatorial race, just drew a clear line between himself and Governor Ron DeSantis on artificial intelligence.
DeSantis has warned about an "age of darkness and deceit" brought on by AI, arguing tech overlords are ready to displace Florida workers, drain resources for data centers, and impose dangerous new systems on the state.
Donalds sees things completely differently.
"I really believe we're on the cusp of something magical happening in the next five to 10 years," Donalds told podcaster Dan Bongino.
The Naples Congressman dismissed job displacement fears, comparing AI to previous economic transformations that created new opportunities.
"I know the concerns about displacement, but with every change in our economy, there are always concerns about displacement," Donalds explained. "That's why we are a free market capitalist economy because the creative destruction of the market system actually leads to future job opportunities."
https://twitter.com/j_fishback/status/1991136618674082102?s=20
He argued AI could revolutionize Florida's government, making it "incredibly efficient with the time of the people of Florida" on everything from home permitting to road construction.
DeSantis Demands Guardrails on AI Development
DeSantis has vowed to "make sure that we put Floridians first, that we look out for our own people and not just have people get harmed by this rush to create data centers, a rush to try to infuse everything with artificial intelligence without sufficient guardrails."
The Governor warned specifically about Chinese-created AI tools, exploitative deepfakes, stolen personal information, and AI-written insurance claims.
The divide reveals a fundamental split about technology and economic freedom.
DeSantis wants strict government oversight and regulation.
Donalds wants the government to get out of the way.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/2019174084915937366?s=20
National Security Experts Back Donalds' Position
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Al Santos warned that blocking AI development in Florida just pushes it to China and Russia.
"If data center development is discouraged here at home, those facilities do not simply disappear," Santos wrote. "They are just built in countries with weaker protections for free speech, fewer safeguards for sensitive data, and closer alignment with authoritarian governments."
China and Russia are investing aggressively in AI as part of their national security strategies while DeSantis talks about pumping the brakes.
"Policies that make it harder to build and operate data centers in the United States do not reduce risk," Santos explained. "They push investment and capability elsewhere."
President Trump has warned about letting China dominate the digital infrastructure powering America's economy and military.
Donalds is aligned with Trump's vision of American technological dominance through free markets.
DeSantis is taking the cautious regulatory approach that sounds more like a Washington, D.C. bureaucrat.
https://twitter.com/j_fishback/status/2018088470133227717?s=20
Donalds praised DeSantis' leadership during COVID and the culture wars before making his pitch for a different future.
"DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state," Donalds said. "Now we're going to take that foundation, maintain that, and then prepare for the future wave of Florida's economy."
The subtext is clear: honor DeSantis' accomplishments, then move Florida in a completely different direction on the defining issue of the next decade.
Florida Republicans face a choice between fear of new technology and embracing innovation.
The smart money is on the candidate who trusts free markets over government control.
Sources:
- A.G. Gancarski, "Byron Donalds breaks with Ron DeSantis on 'magical' AI, embraces technology's 'creative destruction,'" Florida Politics, February 9, 2026.
- Lt. Col. Al Santos (Ret.), "Florida's data centers are crucial for US national security," Florida Politics, February 9, 2026.
