Abigail Disney, an heiress and granddaughter of a co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, has announced her plans to resume donations to the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has decided not to seek reelection.
Earlier this month, Disney indicated that she would halt contributions to the party unless Biden was replaced as the presidential candidate. In a recent email to CNBC, she confirmed her intention to resume support following Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
Upon her initial announcement to withhold donations, Disney had already expressed her support for Harris. She emphasized the capabilities of the Vice President and pointed out the disparities in how Democrats have handled perceived shortcomings in Harris compared to Biden, mentioning issues of race and gender in that context. She expressed optimism that the party could unify around Harris to achieve electoral success.
Disney’s discontent was part of a larger wave of dissatisfaction among elite Democratic donors, especially after Biden’s poor performance in debates against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that this pressure from prominent donors played a role in Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race. Following Biden’s announcement, notable donors including George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also expressed their support for Harris.