The Orlando Magic, an NBA team based in Florida and sponsored by Disney, has made a $50,000 donation to the super PAC supporting Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign. This donation has raised eyebrows due to the team’s sponsorship from Disney, as DeSantis and Disney have had a longstanding dispute.
According to records filed with the Federal Election Commission, the Orlando Magic’s donation was made on June 26 to the DeSantis super PAC called Never Back Down. This move comes after a challenging season for the team, which finished with a record of 34-48 and selected Paolo Banchero as its first pick in the draft.
Alex Shultz, the politics editor for SFGATE, first spotted the donation on Twitter. Although this is the basketball team’s first donation in support of a presidential candidate, it is not the first time they have donated to political causes. In the past, they donated $500 to a Democratic House campaign in 2005, $2,000 to Maverick PAC USA in 2014, and $500 to Conservative Results in 2016.
The Orlando Magic is owned by a company established by Richard DeVos, who is the father-in-law of former President Donald Trump’s secretary of education, Betsy DeVos. The team is chaired by Betsy DeVos’s brother-in-law, Dan DeVos, who has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2023, according to records.
When asked about the donation, a representative from the Orlando Magic declined to comment, stating that the company does not publicly discuss political contributions.
What makes this donation more significant is the ongoing feud between DeSantis and Disney. The company has been at odds with the governor’s administration for years, particularly over what critics have called his Don’t Say Gay legislation. Despite this tension, the Orlando Magic continues to receive sponsorship money from Disney under a multi-year agreement. The team’s jersey prominently features a 2.5 in x 2.5 in Disney logo on the front.
In conclusion, the Orlando Magic’s $50,000 donation to Governor Ron DeSantis’ super PAC raises questions due to the team’s sponsorship by Disney, which has clashed with the governor in the past. While the team has made political contributions before, this is its first donation to a presidential campaign. As the team and Disney continue their partnership, it remains to be seen how this donation will impact their ongoing relationship.
