Disney, DeSantis feud leaves Florida Chamber of Commerce silent

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has considered Disney an ally for more than a decade and helped push Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis up the state political ladder.

As the governor and one of the biggest employer controversies in the state, the powerful business lobbying organization hasn’t taken sides — a move that could risk damaging a relationship with any of the major players in the Sunshine State.

The Chamber has deep relationships with one of the largest employers in Florida. The previous chairman of the group’s board of directors was Anthony Connelly, who was president of Disney Cruise Line. Disney also donated more than $400,000 during the 2010 election cycle to a pair of political committees run by the Chamber, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Last month, the room splurge Walt Disney World has donated $100,000 to support STEM education in Florida. He highlighted Rina Langley, an executive officer at Florida mega park He has been a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors for a long time.

The chamber has also tried to stay on the good side of DeSantis, who has largely promoted corporate-backed policies but nonetheless waged a protracted battle against one of Florida’s biggest economic drivers. The group and several of its board members have also supported the governor’s campaigns, according to campaign finance records and data reviewed by CNBC.

But with Disney and DeSants descending into an increasingly toxic battle, the State House hasn’t defended or criticized either side. The trade lobby group has yet to weigh in on the dispute on its website.

David Jolly, who was a Republican congressman representing Florida’s 13th congressional district, told CNBC that the state chamber is among business groups aligned with DeSantis and Disney, putting the lobbying organization in a difficult position.

“The business class and the lobby are all allies of both DeSantis and Disney,” said Jolie, who is now a political analyst for MSNBC and left the Republican Party. “The chamber’s political divide is perhaps the state GOP’s foremost ally in ballot production and research on low-dollar House seats, as well as marshalling soft dollars around state legislative races.”

The Florida Chamber of Commerce declined to comment. A Disney spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fighting started last year, when Disney spoke out against a Florida bill that would limit discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in class, which critics called “Don’t Say Like Me.” Soon after, the ruler and his allies targeted The special tax zone that has allowed Disney autonomy for its Florida operations since the 1960s.

Disney recently sued DeSantis, alleging that the Republican waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power.” The board of supervisors that DeSantis selected to oversee Disney’s operations voted Monday to sue Disney in response to the company’s lawsuit.

The feud has spilled over into the 2024 Republican presidential primary, with DeSantis considering a run for the White House. Former President Donald Trump, who called DeSantis’ fight with Disney a “political stunt,” plans to use a similar attack on the Florida governor if he enters the race, according to a person close to Trump who declined to be named. To speak freely about campaign strategy.

“Trump intends to say, ‘Ron can’t even beat Mickey Mouse in his backyard, how can he take on China?'” a close advisor to the former president told CNBC. How can he deal with Russia?

A Trump campaign spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As the state legislative session closed on Friday, Republicans supported several pieces of legislation targeting Disney. State legislative records show that the chamber has not officially lobbied any of the post-Disney bills, including HB 9B. The bill, which was signed by the governor earlier this year, Aims To end the autonomy status of the company.

Republican Rep. Fred Hawkins, who introduced HB 9B, told CNBC the most he heard from the state chamber were questions from group leaders and members “just asking what’s in the bill and when it’s going to be introduced.”

Records show that the Florida Chamber of Commerce had reason not to get involved in the bitter feud despite having a historical alliance with Disney.

The State Chamber made significant contributions to the pro-DeSantis political action committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. Since DeSantis’ 2018 run for governor, the Florida Chamber of Commerce has donated $345,000 to the group, according to state campaign finance records.

Nearly half of these donations came during the 2022 election cycle. State Chamber lists DeSantis’ landslide victory over Democrat Charlie Crist was one of dozens of victories for the Florida lobbyist during the last election cycle.

The state chamber board is also full of DeSantis allies, some of whom have been funders of DeSantis campaigns or appointees to state board positions.

Charles Lydecker, CEO of the insurance company Foundation Risk Partners, was a member of the Florida Chamber’s board of directors as of 2020, according to a tax form provided by the group. These forms are the most recent publicly available tax documents for an organization.

Lydecker has contributed $135,000 to a pro-DeSantis PAC since 2018. In 2019, DeSantis eye To the Board of Trustees of the State University System. Lydecker, who is listed as a member of the chamber’s board of directors on the state’s university system website, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Robert Grammig Jr., an attorney and partner at Holland & Knight, worked with the state chamber for years while supporting DeSantis’ campaigns for governor. His Holland & Knight profile says he was president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce until 2019 and currently serves as chair of the lobbying group’s International Business Council.

Campaign finance records in Florida show he donated repeatedly in DeSantis’ two rounds for governor, including $50,000 in 2022 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC. Grammy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

H. Wayne Huizenga Jr. is also listed. DeSantis, a businessman and son of the late billionaire H. Wayne Huizenga, as a member of the State Chamber’s Board of Directors for 2020 applications. announce In 2020, he would designate Huizenga Jr. as a senior. On the board of governors of the state university system.

The businessman gave at least $150,000 to friends of Ron DeSantis Buck during the 2022 election cycle, according to records.

It is unclear if Huizenga Jr. He remains a member of the state chamber’s board of directors. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.