Abigail Disney, the heiress and granddaughter of a co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, has announced her intention to resume financial contributions to the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the race for reelection. Disney initially stated she would halt her donations until Biden was replaced as the presidential candidate.
In a recent email to CNBC, Disney confirmed her decision to support the party again since Biden has stepped aside and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential nomination. Earlier, she had also publicly backed Harris, expressing strong faith in her capabilities.
Disney criticized the Democratic Party for its treatment of Harris, arguing that if the party could overlook Biden’s shortcomings to a significant degree, they should do the same for Harris, highlighting the influence of race and gender in these perceptions. She emphasized that unifying behind Harris could lead to a substantial electoral victory.
Disney’s prior decision to withhold contributions was part of a broader discontent among prominent Democratic donors, particularly following Biden’s poor debate performance against Donald Trump. Reports suggest that the pressure from influential donors and dwindling campaign funds contributed to Biden’s choice to withdraw from the race. Notably, billionaire George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have also shown support for Harris following Biden’s announcement.