Florida House Race Offers Window Into National Data Center Fight

One Florida congressional contest is bringing the national debate over data centers into focus ahead of the midterms.

Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents Florida’s 14th Congressional District, is facing a challenge from Mike Beltran, a lawyer and former Republican state representative. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: America’s Electric Grid Could Throw Wrench In Big Tech’s AI Dreams)

As Election Day approaches, data centers are emerging as a political liability in races across the country, putting candidates from both parties — including Castor and Beltran — on the defensive as voters raise concerns about rising electricity costs and the impact of new projects on their communities.

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Yet for voters who oppose data center development, the choices in many races can appear limited, as both candidates have been tied to policies, industries, and trades that have helped fuel the sector’s growth.

Castor, who has served in Congress since 2007, voted for the Biden administration’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which expanded tax incentives for renewable energy, battery storage, and energy-efficient commercial buildings — provisions that can benefit data center operators, according to the Department of Energy and CliftonLarsonAllen.

Beltran, who served three terms in the Florida House from 2018 to 2024, representing Districts 57 and later 70, is now running to unseat Castor.

Shortly before his August 2026 primary, Beltran’s campaign website touted his support for the Trump administration’s “Working Class Families Tax Cut plan,” part of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act.

Notably, the law established broad tax breaks that can benefit major data center operators, including Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Google. However, the credits are not specific to data centers or technology sector companies.

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Provisions include permanent 100 percent bonus depreciation, immediate expensing of domestic research and experimental costs, and expanded Opportunity Zone incentives that can benefit projects in rural areas. Importantly, any company that qualifies for the credits can claim them, and the provisions don’t apply only to data centers.

Beltran also supported tax breaks for data centers at the state level. In 2021, while serving in the Florida House, he cosponsored HB 7061, which extended a sales tax exemption for data center property.

The bill passed both chambers of the Florida Legislature, and the governor signed it into law.

The race reflects a broader, bipartisan challenge as candidates face scrutiny over their records and financial ties to the data center industry amid concerns about electricity costs and community impacts.

Both Castor and Beltran have received campaign contributions from donors with industry ties.

In January 2026, Castor received $3,500 from Kent Walker, Google and Alphabet’s president of global affairs, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. She also received $1,000 in 2025 from Lisa Kountoupes, a lobbyist with Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, which lobbied Google on nuclear energy and permitting reform, according to FEC filings and Legis1. (RELATED: Federal Regulators Reject Largest US Grid Operator’s Plan To Cut Power To Data Centers)

The Florida Democrat also reported owning between $250,000 and $500,000 in Berkshire Hathaway stock. In September 2026, Berkshire CEO Greg Abel described supplying energy to expanding AI data centers as a “significant opportunity” for the company.

A 2021 report found that Castor failed to timely disclose two Berkshire Hathaway stock purchases within the STOCK Act’s 45 day required time fram, which potentially violating the law, according to a Business Insider.

Castor has also received $17,800 from OGR lobbyist Gordon Taylor and contributions from Akin Gump lobbyist Jocelyn Wiles. Both firms have disclosed lobbying related to data centers and electricity demand, according to OGR’s lobbying report and Akin Gump’s lobbying disclosures.

Overall, Castor has received more than 40 contributions from lobbyists, many of whom represent companies tied to the data center industry, according to FEC records.

When asked by the Caller about Castor’s position on data centers, campaign manager Sarah Green said, “Congresswoman Castor has consistently fought to lower costs, protect good-paying jobs, and hold powerful interests accountable.”

Castor’s spokeswoman reiterated that the congresswoman has “fought back against” major Florida utilities over rising electricity costs and rate increases. She also highlighted Castor’s efforts to keep families “from footing the bill for data centers’ growing energy demands.”

Although Castor has previously held investments and received campaign contributions tied to the energy sector, she has since sponsored the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, which passed the House in September.

The legislation requires data center operators to pay for the electricity and grid upgrades needed to support their energy demands, rather than passing those costs on to consumers, according to a Florida Politics report.

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In 2022, Castor also called on the Department of Justice to investigate Florida Power & Light over allegations that the utility used undisclosed political spending to influence Florida elections and engaged in other misconduct, according to a WLRN report.

In a written statement to the Caller, Green further criticized Beltran’s support for data center tax breaks, saying, “While Beltran cosponsored legislation to give tax breaks to data centers and voted to raise our utility bills, Congresswoman Castor has a clear record of fighting to protect Floridians from higher costs and demanding accountability from those who try to profit off their backs.”

Like his Democrat competitor, Beltran has also received contributions from companies, lobbyists, and political committees connected to the industry. (RELATED: Senators Want To Make AI Data Centers Pay For The Grid Upgrades Driving Up Your Electric Bill)

Between 2018 and 2022, he received $11,500 from data center companies and businesses positioned to profit from the industry, as well as $12,750 from related lobbyists, firms and political committees, according to Florida Department of State Division of Elections (FDSDE) records reviewed by the Daily Caller.

Beltran received $4,000 from RSA Consulting Group, which lobbied for TECO Energy, and $6,500 from Southern Group affiliates and personnel.

According to records reviewed by the Caller, the Southern Group lobbied for Stonebridge Associates on data center issues in 2026.

Beltran also received $1,750 from GrayRobinson’s political action committee between 2019 and 2021; the firm lobbied for a St. Lucie County data center.

In 2021, he received another $500 from Capitol Alliance Group, which represented xAI in 2026.

Separately, from 2018 to 2022, Beltran accepted at least $22,500 in contributions from regulated utilities and telecommunications companies, according to records reviewed by the Caller.

Beltran further reported between $350,002 and $750,000 invested in the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU), whose top holdings consisted entirely of utility companies, led by NextEra Energy, according to a June 2026 personal financial disclosure statement.

When asked about Beltran’s stock trades and past support for HB 7061, a spokesperson for his campaign said he has consistently opposed data center tax breaks and supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to rein in the industry.

Consumer protections signed into law regarding data centers, including ensuring local control, conservation of water resources and prohibiting energy costs to be passed onto individuals and businesses. It seems to now be a consensus view that data center companies should pay their own way, but Florida is the first to codify those protections into law.

A spokesperson for Beltran, when asked about trades and past support for legislation over major tax cuts, wrote, “Mike has been incredibly clear on data centers, including being a key supporter of Governor DeSantis’ plan to reel them in here in Florida, which a number of Johnny-come-latelys in Washington have tried to replicate. While he supported HB 7061 five years ago, a major tax-cut bill that was a priority of Governor DeSantis, he opposed the tax breaks for data centers and continues to hold that position.”

The spokesperson added that Beltran has not, to the best of his knowledge, accepted campaign contributions from the data center industry and plans to sell any Berkshire Hathaway stock he purchased “as a normal citizen before he becomes a member of Congress.”