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Since Publix has been in the news lately, here’s a short thread about their recent political contributions.
In 2018, during the Florida Republican Gubernatorial primary, news broke that candidate Adam Putnam had received $670,000 in contributions over the course of the last three years. https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/05/15/publix-is-supporting-adam-putnams-run-for-governor-like-no-politician-before/
At the time, Adam Putnam was the elected Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services which conducts health safety inspections at grocery stores. The agency also handles consumer complaints directed at food businesses, including supermarkets.
Putnam was also responsible for conducting criminal background checks on concealed weapons permit applicants - something his agency failed to do for more than a year. https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/06/08/gun-background-check-failure-haunts-proud-nra-sellout-putnam-459837
Putnam was a staunch pro-gun advocate who once referred to himself as a “Proud NRA Sellout.” Of course, that didn’t stop Publix from contributing to his campaigns. https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2017/07/26/adam-putnam-says-hes-a-proud-nra-sellout
When tragedy struck Parkland, the student activists staged a “die-in” at Publix to protest the grocery store’s support for Putnam and his pro-NRA policies. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/25/parkland-students-die-in-publix-nra-adam-putnam-protest
Concerned about all of the bad publicity, Publix announced that they would be halting “all corporate political contributions.” https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article211940599.html
There was another candidate in the Florida Republican primary. A little known congressman named Ron DeSantis. This is how he responded to the protest. https://twitter.com/govrondesantis/status/1000154528640045056
Ron DeSantis ultimately won the primary after receiving the endorsement of Donald Trump, and in February of the following year Publix started making political contributions again. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-ne-ap-publix-political-donations-20190401-story.html
Publix contributed $25,000 to the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC in November 2029 and another $25,000 in January 2020. In December 2020 the grocery chain made four additional $25,000 contributions to the PAC. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/publix-gave-100000-to-republican-florida-gov-ron-desantis-11802566
A month later DeSantis gave Publix sole rights to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/florida-desantis-publix-sole-rights-covid-vaccine_n_6011c17bc5b67848ee7d7a41
And here’s the kicker, despite all of their political contributions and support for pro-NRA politicians, Publix ultimately refused to contribute to the Stoneman Douglas Victims Fund. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooting/fl-sb-fred-guttenberg-publix-20180529-story.html
