Poll: Near-majority of Floridians side with DeSantis over Disney

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (FLV) – A new poll found that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political feud with the Walt Disney Company is a battle supported by a near-majority of Floridians.

The poll, released by Florida Atlantic University and conducted among 933 adults from June 27 to July 1, handed DeSantis the edge in support against Disney at a total of 47%, while 43% sided with Disney.

FAU found that 9% did not know or have no opinion.

In total, 35% were found to strongly support DeSantis and 12% somewhat. 33% strongly support Disney while 10% strongly support the company.

The poll comes as a lawsuit continues between the governor and Disney over the state nullifying last-minute agreements between the company and its former district board in Central Florida.

Disney previously filed the lawsuit in April after DeSantis’ appointed board overseeing Walt Disney World voted to nullify last-minute, far-reaching agreements over the Central Florida district.

The company previously alleged that the governor-appointed board is engaging in a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” that would threaten “Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

Just before the new law was signed in February to create the new board and strip Disney of its self-governing powers, the previous board zipped through 11th hour contracts that restricted the new board’s powers.

Upon learning about the contracts, the new Central Florida Tourism Oversight District voted to nullify those Disney agreements.

However, Chair Martin Garcia said the board had “no choice” but to respond and sue Disney in state court.

“Our role is simply to follow the laws enacted by the Florida Legislature,” Garcia said. “This is what this board has done, and will continue to do to move the district forward.”