Shut Out of Florida Politics, Disney Turns to California, But Anaheim Wants Them Out

Shortly after former Disney CEO Bob Chapek spoke out against Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, known by its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, The Walt Disney Company decided to cut all campaign contributions to Florida politicians. Both of those decisions made Florida Governor Ron DeSantis respond to Disney by stripping it of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and replacing it with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District as the governing body of Walt Disney World.

But there are no such issues when Disney officials look to the West. California Governor Gavin Newsom has shown himself to be a friend to Disney, and for decades, Anaheim and Orange County politicians pretty much let Disneyland do whatever it wanted. There were even jokes that the President of Disneyland was the real mayor of Anaheim.

That was before the FBI got involved. In 2022, the FBI alleged that officials in Anaheim were engaged in a “cabal” that included executives from Disneyland. The real mayor of Anaheim was forced to resign over the corruption scandal. The FBI also alleged that The Walt Disney Company used its power in Orange County to influence policymakers to ensure they would create policies that were friendly to Disney.

A year later, an independent corruption investigation found that Disney’s ties to politicians in Anaheim ran deeper than previously believed. It said that businesses in Anaheim, which included hotels, Disney, and the Los Angeles Angels, used money, donations, and gifts to influence politicians.

Despite all that, Anaheim still agreed to allow Disney to expand Disneyland with its DisneyForward initiative. This expansion will include 16 additional attractions. This is the largest expansion of Disneyland since Disney’s California Adventure opened in 2002.

But now, the citizens of Anaheim are trying to reign in Disney’s power. Anaheim is hosting a forum on campaign finance reform in the city, hoping to develop a way to curb Disney’s influence in the city and on the city council.

Shirley Grindle, a resident who authored the county’s campaign finance ordinance in 1978 Anaheim later adopted that, told the Voice of OC:

Particularly in Anaheim, because of The Walt Disney Company and the big hotel owners. It’s perfectly legal. They’re spending $1 to $2 million to get a council person elected. I wish Disney would just back out of the elections.

But any restrictions that Anaheim puts on Disney’s campaign finance contribution are going to run into one big obstacle: the United States Supreme Court.

First Amendment Issues

The Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United (2010) decision essentially allows companies to donate as much money as they want to politicians. The decision equated money with free speech. Should Anaheim restrict what The Walt Disney Company can contribute to local politicians, it would most likely sue and win using Citizen’s United as precedent.

Anaheim City Attorney Rob Fabela said at a council meeting:

If a council decides to restrict itself on when it can vote and not vote, that has been approved by the US Supreme Court…It would not shock me if someone came up with an argument that the First Amendment rights of those contributing to independent expenditures for candidates –  somehow their First Amendment rights are being violated. But I think it’s defensible.

So, Anaheim seems to find itself between a rock and a hard place. If they resist Disney and limit its influence in the city, they could also find themselves in a protracted legal battle with one of its largest taxpayers that could take decades and cost the city millions.

Related: Chief Justice John Roberts Just Sent a Message to DeSantis, Bring Disney Feud to Supreme Court and You’ll Lose

Disney is already embroiled in a First Amendment battle with Florida Gov Ron DeSantis. Disney is accusing the governor of infringing on its First Amendment Rights and government retaliation for stripping Disney World of the Reedy Creek Improvement District.

A lengthy legal battle with the Anaheim City Council would not be a good look for The Walt Disney Co. as they need some allies in the state where they have their theme parks. Otherwise, Disney would be fighting battles on all fronts.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.