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A Battle of the Disney Governors Is Finally Coming

If you’re a Disney fan, then you most likely know that Disney is currently locking horns with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. For more than a year, the controversial governor has been attacking Disney and passing laws to punish the Mouse House. The governor began his crusade against Disney when ex-CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill. A bill that was championed by Governor DeSantis.

Ron DeSantis
Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Governor DeSantis is now traveling the country as he runs for President of the United States. Since he announced that he was running for president, his opponents have been using his fight with Disney against him. Everyone from former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to former president Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie have all criticized DeSantis for punishing a company because they said something he didn’t like.

Ron DeSantis Presidential debate
Credit: PBS

Related: Imagineer Reveals Truth Behind Disney’s Donald Trump Animatronic

Now, another critic is stepping into the ring to do battle.

According to a report from TheWrap, California Governor Gavin Newsom will be debating Governor DeSantis later this year. The debate will take place on November 30, with Fox host Sean Hannity moderating. The 90-minute debate will take place in Georgia, but a specific location has not yet been announced.

Gavin Newsom Disneyland
Credit: Disney

Per TheWrap:

Newsom first challenged DeSantis to a debate last year. The event between the two governors started coming into focus last month when both Newsom and DeSantis agreed to participate in the event, but plans for the debate were stalled over whether a live audience would be included, which seems to have been sorted out. 

Fox News is presenting the debate as “Red State vs. Blue State,” in an effort to highlight the differences in governance between the two politicians. 

Gavin Newsom, Bob Iger, Josh D'Amaro
Credit: Disney

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The debate could be particularly interesting because Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis are the two governors who know what it is like to have a Disney theme park in their state. Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World Resort is located in Orlando, Florida.

Aside from that, the two governors have almost nothing in common.

DeSantis welcomes Disney's surrender
Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

Newsom and DeSantis had decidedly different reactions to theme park reopenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World closed in March 2020. However, Walt Disney World reopened just a few months later, in July. Disneyland Resort did not reopen until April 2021, much to the frustration of Disney executives.

Disney World Cast Members Face Masks
Credit: Disney

When they reopened, both Resorts had strict safety measures in place, including mask mandates, social distancing requirements, and capacity restrictions. Governor DeSantis frequently called for an end to mask mandates and even threatened private businesses that insisted customers wear masks. Newsom, on the other hand, encouraged all residents and visiting tourists to wear masks and get the COVID-19 vaccine.

For a while, things were strained between Disney and the liberal California governor. Disney CEO Bob Iger had been a part of Newsom’s Economic Recovery team, which was helping the governor figure out how to safely reopen the state. However, Iger quit when Newsom refused to budge on his reopening plans for theme parks.

Disneyland Guests wearing masks
Credit: Disney

Things have much improved between Disney and Newsom. When Disney was planning on moving a majority of its Imagineers to a new campus in Lake Nona, Florida, Newsom encouraged them to stay in the state. He told Disney executives that he would be more than willing to work with them on financial initiatives to stay.

Newsom’s proposal to Disney wound up being unnecessary. After dealing with near-constant attacks from Governor DeSantis and the Republican-led state legislature, Disney canceled its Lake Nona project. That cost the state thousands of jobs, millions in taxes, and millions in tourism dollars.

Disney's Lake Nona Cancelation Has a Ripple Effect in the Surrounding Area
Credit: Disney

RelatedDisney’s Lake Nona Cancelation Has a Ripple Effect in the Surrounding Area

In addition to losing the monetary and job benefits of Lake Nona, Governor DeSantis is also being sued by Disney. Disney is accusing the governor of violating its First Amendment Right to free speech. Despite the lawsuit, DeSantis has admitted at rallies and in his new book that he didn’t start going after Disney until they spoke out against his bill.

DeSantis responds to billionaire donor criticism over Disney
Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr

RelatedBob Iger Says Disney Will “Quiet the Noise” in “Woke” War Against DeSantis

Even though DeSantis has admitted to violating Disney’s free speech rights, he has also said that the company should drop the lawsuit because he has “moved on.” Disney has not made any statements indicating that they intend to drop the suit. Newsom has supported Disney in its lawsuit against the Florida governor.

DeSantis has also frequently criticized Disney for its “woke” content — content featuring more diverse characters that have different skin colors, different sexualities, and different types of families. He has even threatened to tighten the purse strings on the money given to Walt Disney World if Disney continues to create that kind of content.

cast member ruins disney experience
Credit: Disney

Newsom has consistently praised Disney for its new content, and its new characters, and even attended Disneyland Resort’s first-ever Pride Nite. He was seen hugging guests and telling them how exciting it was to see so many people embracing and accepting each other for who they are and who they love. He shared several photos from his time at Pride Nite.

Will you be watching the Newsom vs. DeSantis debate on November 30?

Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

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