If you've been paying attention, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise that Publix — Florida's cult-favorite grocery store — made a six-figure contribution to the state's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, last month.
For years, the Lakeland-based company and members of its founding family have supported conservative causes and backed efforts to oppose progressive legislation, including the legalization of medical marijuana and the regulation of polystyrene, better known by the brand name Styrofoam. In 2018, Publix leaders gave $670,000 to a campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam. The next year, heirs to the Publix fortune donated $28,000 to Donald Trump's re-election campaign and $25,000 to a PAC supporting DeSantis' re-election bid.