James Shaw For Rep Gov.

South Florida – May 26, 2026 – James Shaw, a proven fighter for Florida families and Republican candidate for Governor, issued a strong warning about the dual threats of mass AI job displacement and the rapid construction of AI data centers that form the backbone of a coming surveillance state.

Along with other local citizens, Shaw helped stop the controversial ‘Okee-One’ AI data center project in Okeechobee County and is now sounding the alarm about the environmental destruction, grid strain, loss of jobs, and erosion of freedom these facilities represent. Shaw particularly emphasized how these data centers are the backbone of massive job elimination across both white- and blue-collar sectors.

“We stopped the Lake Okeechobee data center because Floridians will not accept being turned into collateral damage for Big Tech’s profits,” said James Shaw. “These massive AI facilities guzzle our water, poison our rivers with chemical blowdown, create constant noise and light pollution, generate enormous heat islands, and devour electricity that belongs to our families and small businesses. They are the physical infrastructure of the digital control grid — tied to Digital IDs, tokenized transactions, programmable money, and total surveillance.”

AI Job Loss Tsunami

Shaw is also directly confronting the human cost of unchecked AI development:

• Microsoft AI CEO predicts “most, if not all” white-collar tasks automated within 18 months.
• Leading computer scientists Stuart Russell warns of potential 80% unemployment as AI threatens surgeons, CEOs, truck drivers, journalists, and tradespeople.
• Over 10 million Americans work in transportation roles alone — many facing replacement by driverless technology.
• Elon Musk’s Optimus-style robots targeting construction and trade jobs.

“We are staring down a job apocalypse,” Shaw stated. “The elite response of Universal Basic Income tied to CBDCs and social credit rules is not freedom — it is digital enslavement. Floridians deserve real economic opportunity, not a future of controlled dependency in 15-minute Smart cities.”

Victory at Lake Okeechobee

Thanks in large part to local resistance including Shaw, Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration withdrew state funding and support for the Okee-One project. Shaw and allies highlighted the project’s massive demands on water (hundreds of millions of gallons annually), energy, and the resulting pollution — issues now repeating across the state and nation.

A Candidate Who Cannot Be Bought

James Shaw received more votes for Florida Agriculture Commissioner than Jay Collins, Byron Donalds, and Paul Renner received in their respective races combined. Unlike Byron, Shaw refused AI PAC money and stands independent of the tech interests pushing Florida as an unquestioned “AI Tech Hub.”  In contrast, opponents like Byron Donalds have accepted millions in AI-related funding while promoting data centers under the banner of “keeping data out of Virginia or China” — despite the clear environmental and sovereignty costs to Floridians.

Call to Action

Shaw is calling on all Floridians to reject the surveillance state infrastructure — including NSPM-7 policies and expansive Palantir-style social monitoring — and demand leadership that puts people, property rights, and constitutional freedoms first.

“Don’t sleep on James Shaw,” supporters say. “He fights for Florida’s future.”

Video Resources:

• James Shaw on stopping the Lake Okeechobee data center: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/k-GZK2GjwNM
• AI Job Loss Warning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnI-ehrwb_4
• Defend Florida interview https://youtu.be/SDNtHfEHgdQ

Date Posted: May 29, 2026