LAKELAND, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging Florida Republicans to embrace tighter artificial intelligence safeguards, warning that opposition to regulation could hurt the party in the 2026 midterm elections. Speaking Monday at an event in Lakeland, DeSantis said candidates who support what he called “AI amnesty” would be taking a politically damaging position. He argued that voters would respond favorably to measures protecting communities from rising electricity costs and giving local governments a say over large data-center projects. “It is not only the right policy, it’s also the right politics,” DeSantis said. The governor has advocated for an AI bill of rights, stronger parental controls and consumer privacy protections. He said regulation should ensure that artificial intelligence improves people’s lives rather than displacing human decision-making, while preventing companies from monitoring residents’ activities without meaningful safeguards. DeSantis also said states should retain the ability to pursue civil and criminal penalties when AI tools are used to cause harm. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, whom DeSantis selected for the post, is seeking legislation that could allow criminal charges against companies when their chatbots facilitate illegal conduct, including the creation of child sexual abuse material. The governor’s stance conflicts with Trump, who has continued to oppose broad AI regulation. Trump said Monday that the technology’s only necessary safeguards would be provided by a strong president, repeating a position he also expressed during a recent trip to Ireland. The disagreement comes as concern about AI’s risks grows among lawmakers and technology executives. Some industry leaders have recently called for a pause or slowdown in the development of advanced systems, while DeSantis questioned whether companies were seeking influence over future rules or positioning themselves for government assistance if their AI investments lose money. Florida lawmakers approved new restrictions on hyperscale data centers earlier this year, reflecting concerns about their effects on local infrastructure, energy demand and utility rates. But some Republican legislators have resisted DeSantis’ proposals on AI privacy and parental controls, arguing that the federal government should establish a national policy instead of leaving states to set separate rules. DeSantis said he does not want a small group of technology companies to gain excessive control over residents’ lives. He portrayed his approach as an effort to protect children, privacy and local communities without preventing companies from competing in the rapidly developing field. “I don’t want to see four or five companies basically controlling our lives through the guise of artificial intelligence or whatever technology comes down,” DeSantis said.