A Republican and potential 2024 presidential candidate, DeSantis kicked off a feud with Disney last year after the company criticized a law championed by the governor that restricted classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity.
DeSantis responded by seizing control of the board that manages the day-to-day operations of Disney’s theme parks in Florida and appointed his own people. But Disney was able to outmaneuver the Florida governor by pushing through changes at the last minute that would weaken the municipal authority hand-picked by DeSantis.
Last week, DeSantis vowed to outdo the changes Disney made and further threatened the company, suggesting the state might build a prison near the company’s theme parks.
DeSantis has taken several controversial steps in his state in part to raise his profile as a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. FiveThirtyEight, which aggregates polls, shows Trump has widened his lead over DeSantis among Republicans, 51% to 24%.
Disney shares were little changed in New York trading at 12:30 p.m.
The company is one of Central Florida’s largest taxpayers, with more than $1.1 billion paid in state and local taxes last year. Disney is also one of the largest employers in the State, with tens of thousands of workers, which it calls cast members.
The case is Walt Disney Parks and Resorts v. DeSantis, 23-cv-00163, US District Court, Northern District of Florida.
—Bloomberg News
