Disney sued Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSandis on Wednesday, accusing him of conducting a campaign of “government retaliation” against him.

In its lawsuit, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts accuses DeSandis of orchestrating a “targeted government retaliation campaign” against her to punish her for exercising her right to “freedom of expression.”

According to the company, this “campaign” now “threatens Disney’s business operations, endangers its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

The lawsuit escalates a dispute between an entertainment group and a Republican politician who has his sights set on the 2024 presidential election.

Last year, the entertainment giant drew the governor’s ire when it announced it would suspend political donations in the state and pledged to support organizations that oppose a new state law that restricts the teaching of sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom.

In February, DeSandis canceled Disney’s special status in the state, suspending the relative autonomy the company had enjoyed since the 1960s, and reorganized the board of directors for Disney World’s special district, which includes four theme parks, dozens of hotels and entertainment venues.

This council was responsible for overseeing the exploitation of the land surrounding Disney World. Florida’s governor now has the power to appoint members to it, which until now only landowners in the 100,000-square-kilometre area could do. Disney owns most of the land.

Commenting on the move, DeSandis stated, “There’s a new sheriff in town.”

In early April, Disney CEO Bob Iger publicly accused DeSandis of taking “anti-commercial measures” that violated the company’s “right to free speech.”

Then a newly formed tourism commission, appointed by the governor himself on Wednesday, canceled a trade deal recently struck with Disney World in Orlando, Florida, which employs 75,000 people and attracts 50 million people annually.

Disney responded by condemning their lawsuit as “retaliatory, clearly anti-commercial and clearly unconstitutional.” The company calculated that “it has no choice but to take legal action to protect its employees, customers and partners.”

Disney expects to invest more than $17 billion in Disney World over the next decade, create more than 10,000 jobs and bring even more tourists to Florida.

According to Reuters