Ryan Robertson Anchor/Investigative Reporter

Dethroning Disney fundraising gold for DeSantis

Apr 27, 2022

Ryan Robertson Anchor/Investigative Reporter

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor/Investigative Reporter)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is running for re-election, and his current legal fight with Disney is just the latest high-profile headline involving the potential presidential candidate. At the end of March, DeSantis had $105 million in his campaign coffers, a record amount in Florida politics.

Conservative support swelled for DeSantis across the nation after he signed a bill this month stripping the Walt Disney Company of its special self-governing authority over Orlando-area parks. Stripping Disney of its special status is seen as political payback for Disney opposing the Parental Rights in Education law, or what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The controversial education measure bans lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and gives parents the right to sue school districts.

When the DeSantis campaign sent out its first fundraising email berating Disney for the company’s stance on the parental rights bill, the campaign received almost 950 small donations of $100 or less. All those small donations amounted to about $30,000—in a single day. And many of these donors don’t live in Florida, but places like Ohio, New York, Colorado and more.

All this support from around the country for Governor DeSantis could be a good way to predict support for presidential candidate DeSantis, if he decides to run. However, campaign finance laws say any money DeSantis raises while running for governor can’t be used in a federal campaign.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AND HIS CURRENT LEGAL FIGHT WITH DISNEY IS JUST THE LATEST HIGH-PROFILE HEADLINE INVOLVING THE POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

AT THE END OF MARCH, DESANTIS HAD $105 MILLION IN HIS CAMPAIGN COFFERS, A RECORD AMOUNT IN FLORIDA POLITICS.

CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT SWELLED FOR DESANTIS ACROSS THE NATION AFTER HE SIGNED A BILL THIS MONTH STRIPPING WALT DISNEY OF ITS SPECIAL SELF-GOVERNING AUTHORITY OVER ORLANDO-AREA PARKS.

STRIPPING THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY OF ITS SPECIAL STATUS IS SEEN AS POLITICAL PAYBACK FOR DISNEY OPPOSING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION LAW, OR WHAT CRITICS CALL THE “DON’T SAY GAY” LAW.

THE CONTROVERSIAL EDUCATION MEASURE BANS LESSONS ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE, AND ALSO GIVES PARENTS THE RIGHT TO SUE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WHEN THE DESANTIS CAMPAIGN SENT OUT ITS FIRST FUNDRAISING EMAIL BERATING DISNEY FOR THE COMPANY’S STANCE ON THE PARENTAL RIGHTS BILL, THE CAMPAIGN RECEIVED ALMOST 950 SMALL DONATIONS OF $100 OR LESS. ALL THOSE SMALL DONATIONS AMOUNTED TO ABOUT $30,000—IN A SINGLE DAY.

AND MANY OF THESE DONORS DON’T LIVE IN FLORIDA, BUT RATHER PLACES LIKE OHIO, NEW YORK, COLORADO AND MORE.

ALL THIS SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR GOVERNOR SANTIS COULD BE A GOOD WAY TO PREDICT SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DESANTIS, IF HE DECIDES TO RUN.

HOWEVER, CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS SAY ANY MONEY DESANTIS RAISES WHILE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR CAN’T BE USED IN A FEDERAL CAMPAIGN.