Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has more residents of the Sunshine State backing him in his feud with Disney than the company does, according to a new survey.
A Florida Atlantic University Mainstreet PolCom Lab poll, conducted from June 27 to July 1, shows 47.8% of Floridians either somewhat or strongly support DeSantis in the feud, while 42.8% either somewhat or strongly support Disney, and 9.4% said they had no opinion or did not know.
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Among Republicans, DeSantis holds a major lead over Disney, 80.8%-12.5%, while among Democrats, Disney has a major lead over DeSantis, 75.8%-14.9%. With independent voters, DeSantis has a slight edge over Disney, 42.2%-41.8%.
The feud between DeSantis and the company stemmed from Disney denouncing the Parental Rights in Education Act, which DeSantis signed into law last year. Disney announced its opposition to the bill and declared its goal was "for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts." DeSantis claims he saw that vow as inflammatory and shortly after restructured Disney's central Florida district, which the company had autonomy over since 1967.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District, which encompasses the Walt Disney World Resort, was restructured into the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District through various laws. The new district is governed by a board, appointed by the governor of Florida. Shortly after the new board took power, an agreement Disney made with the previous board stripping power away from the governing board was discovered.
DeSantis and the board worked to void the agreement, which led Disney to sue the governor and state entities in federal court alleging a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials." The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board countersued Disney in state court.
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In the state lawsuit, Disney is arguing the case should be thrown out or stayed until the federal lawsuit is resolved, while in the federal lawsuit, DeSantis argues he has immunity to the lawsuit due to it being a legislative action, while the board argues the case should be thrown out or stayed until the state lawsuit is settled.
The first hearing in the state lawsuit between Disney and the board is scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. in Orange County, Florida.