The Orlando Magic donated $50,000 to a Super PAC that has raised over $130 million in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ bid for the presidency.
The donation was disclosed as part of a mid-year report filed on July 31 with the Federal Election Commission by Never Back Down, Inc., the Super Political Action Committee that supports Governor DeSantis.
According to the report, through June 30, 2023, the group has raised $130,558,494.33. Over that same time period, it has spent $33,784,485 and has $96,804,008 in cash on hand.
On June 26, the group received a $50,000 contribution from Orlando Magic, LTD., which is the legal name of the basketball team.
Although the owners of teams from the National Basketball Association have a long history of donations to political campaigns, there is little precedent for a team making a contribution. FEC archives show that this is not the first time that the Magic have made a political contribution.
In 2016, the team donated $500 to the Conservative Results PAC, and in 2014, the group made a $2,000 donation to Maverick PAC USA. In 2000, the team made a $500 donation to Linda Chapin for Congress.
Currently, the Magic have a sponsorship deal with Disney that includes a prominently placed “Disney” logo on the team’s jerseys. Disney is in the midst of a legal battle with Governor DeSantis that has taken center stage among the nation’s news publications.