Disney and its affiliates have donated more than $2.3 million in Florida this election cycle, which includes money to elected officials, their political committees and committees run by one of the state's main business groups. Hotel rooms, theme park tickets, and campaign checks are included. Money has flowed to individual legislators as well as political committees controlled by Republican and Democratic leaders.
Many state Republicans have refused to return campaign contributions to Disney, which they have blasted over the company's opposition to a law banning instruction of gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade. The company was stripped of special privileges that allowed it to operate as its own municipal government in central Florida.
Disney has given the Republican Party of Florida $255,000 in checks since January 2021, as well as nearly 142,000 worth of in-kind donations that covered lodging, food and entertainment costs of visiting Disney parks. The party wouldn't say if it would return donations.
The reelection campaign received $50,000 from Disney in March of 2021, as well as an additional $50,000 two years earlier, but has not returned it. The campaign wouldn't comment on Disney donations.
At a dinner for the Leon County Republican Party, where he was the keynote speaker, he said that they had gotten a free ride in Florida for 50 years and that they were arrogant. That is not going to happen.
The amount of money given won't make or break a candidate. The governor is willing to accept campaign contributions while at the same time punishing the company, a move a state Democrat called "performative."
One of the Republicans who sponsored the bill that led to the fight between Disney and the state of Florida returned Disney donations.
A bill that was sponsored by state Rep. Joe Harding was returned more than $8,000 he had received from Disney. The bill was called a broad attack against the LGBTQ community. Some say it could lead to suicides and other forms of discrimination.
I can't be aligned with a corporation that has been taken over by a mob mentality from California and other blue states. He was one of three Republicans who returned Disney money.
Republicans are holding on to their Disney donations.
I did it on principle and I don't have an opinion on other people. It was something I needed to do for me. I didn't see it as creating a movement.
The Florida Democratic Party abruptly scrapped plans to hold its biggest annual fundraiser at Disney World after the party's LGBTQ caucus and other top Democrats threatened to boycott the event. Disney gave $138,881 to the Florida Democratic Party during this election cycle, of which $113,000 was in-kind contributions.
Disney stopped making campaign donations in Florida in March after facing backlash for not taking a stand against the bill. The company hoped that the law would be struck down by the courts. A group of advocates have filed a federal lawsuit. Disney's push to advocate for repeal of the law caused a stir among Republicans.
It is one of the dumbest things any corporation has ever done, according to the comments made by Ron DeSantis to Republicans this week.
Records show that Disney gave the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign more than $380,000 in checks and in-kind donations in the past 15 months, including a check for $65,000 at the start of this year's legislative session. Kathleen Passidomo, the incoming Florida Senate President, is in charge of the political committee.
Disney gave $25,000 to the political committee helping Republican Attorney General Moody, who may have to defend the state if Disney files a lawsuit. Her reelection campaign did not comment.
Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican ally of Ron DeSantis and whose political committee received a $10,000 check in February as well as $51,000 worth of lodging, travel and other expenses last September from the company, was one of the few who defended holding on to money.
The CFO doesn't support his agenda to keep taxes low and our financial health strong. CFO Patronis supports the Governor's efforts to protect parental rights in education, especially when it comes to protecting public school children in kindergarten through 3rd grade.
The theater of the situation is highlighted by the Republicans' refusal to return Disney's money.
If Disney profits off communist China, why aren't Republicans returning the millions they've received?
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