In a new lawsuit, Disney alleges that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is trying to undermine its business.
The Florida-based company says that DeSantis and his allies have rolled out policies that are "patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional."
The feud started in early 2022, when Disney criticized anti-LGBTQ legislation widely known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill.
- In a tit-for-tat, the GOP-controlled Florida House passed legislation to scrap the status that allowed Disney to self-govern the Orlando district in which the company's resorts are located for more than five decades.
- DeSantis dismissed the board of supervisors that ran the district and appointed new board members. The new board recently announced plans to roll back some of Disney's earlier policies.
- On Wednesday, the board voted unanimously to strike down a development deal that had been approved by the previous board, which was aligned with Disney.
- In the lawsuit, Disney said that DeSantis' efforts amounted to a "relentless campaign to weaponize government power" and asked a federal court to overturn the board's latest decision.
DeSantis is expected to join the race for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination in the near future.
- A recent WSJ poll found that 38% of likely GOP primary voters support DeSantis, compared to 51% who favor former President Donald Trump.
