Most Americans—Even Republicans—Oppose Florida GOP’s Attacks On Disney, Poll Suggests

Topline

A bipartisan majority of U.S. adults oppose laws that go after companies for their political positions and the politicians who support them, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found, indicating efforts by Florida lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to target Disney for the company’s opposition Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, are likely broadly unpopular—including even among many Republicans.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on February … [+] 24 in Orlando, Florida.

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Key Facts

The poll found 62% of Americans are less likely to support a candidate if they support laws that punish companies for “tak[ing] stands on politically controversial issues,” including 68% of Democrats and 55% of Republicans.

A bipartisan 53% majority said they oppose such laws in general, including 58% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans.

A 36% share of Republicans said they’re less likely to back politicians who support laws that “remove benefits” from companies because they “push a ‘woke’ agenda”—as DeSantis has with Disney—versus 60% of Democrats and 51% overall.

Republicans were even more likely than Democrats to say they’d support a politician who thinks companies “have the same right to free speech as regular Americans,” with 74% of Republicans more likely to back those candidates and 67% of Democrats (68% overall).

Republicans’ Disney backlash is even more unpopular than the law that provoked it, as 50% of respondents supported laws that ban classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation, as HB 1557 does, while 38% oppose them and 12% aren’t sure.

The poll was conducted April 27-28 among 1,003 respondents.

Tangent

DeSantis has gained attention as a potential frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, and Reuters notes his attacks on Disney are an attempt to boost his standing with conservatives by going after the left and its “woke” agenda. So far, the poll found 69% of Republican respondents have a favorable view of DeSantis and 25% said he “best represents the values of their party,” second only to 40% saying the same of former President Donald Trump.

Key Background

Florida Republicans have gone after Disney over the company’s opposition to HB 1557, which prohibits classroom instruction involving “sexual orientation or gender identity” through the third grade, and any discussions about it in older grades if it’s “in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate.” DeSantis and Florida legislators vowed revenge on the company after it said in a statement the law “should never” have been passed or enacted and its “goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts.” Republicans went on to quickly enact a law that will dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District that covers Walt Disney World and allows it to govern itself.

What To Watch For

DeSantis has responded to the criticism of dissolving Reedy Creek—local taxpayers footing the bill; state finances being hit—by promising the law was only a “first step” and the legislature will take further action to ensure killing the special district doesn’t have harmful effects. It’s still unclear what those next steps will actually be.

What We Don’t Know

If Republicans’ effort to punish Disney by taking away Reedy Creek will actually work. Reedy Creek said in a note to investors it believes the law violates other provisions of Florida law that block the state from getting rid of the district before all its bond debt is paid off. The company could have other grounds to sue and potentially block the dissolution if they so choose, though Reedy Creek has said only that it’s “explor[ing] its options.”