Heiress Abigail Disney has announced that she will resume her donations to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.
Disney, a prominent figure in the Disney family and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, had previously stated that she would halt her contributions until Biden was replaced at the top of the Democratic ticket. In an email to CNBC, she confirmed her renewed support, stating, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” now that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
When she initially paused her donations, Disney expressed her support for Harris, praising her qualifications. “We have an excellent Vice President. If Democrats would tolerate any of her perceived shortcomings even one-tenth as much as they have tolerated Biden’s (and let’s not kid ourselves about where race and gender figure in that inequity), and if Democrats can find a way to stop quibbling and rally around her, we can win this election by a lot,” she remarked.
Disney’s stance follows a trend among several elite Democratic donors who voiced their frustrations with Biden, particularly after a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from key donors and a decline in funding were factors that influenced Biden’s decision to step back from the race. Notable figures like George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have also expressed their support for Harris after Biden’s announcement.