Abigail Disney, the heiress and granddaughter of a co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, has announced her decision to resume donations to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Disney initially declared earlier this month that she would halt contributions until the party found a new candidate to replace Biden at the top of the ticket.
In a recent email to CNBC, Disney confirmed her renewed support, stating, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” now that Biden has stepped aside and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Disney also expressed her backing for Harris at the time she paused her donations.
“We have an excellent Vice President,” Disney noted, emphasizing that the Democratic Party should embrace Harris and move past any perceived shortcomings. She highlighted the inequities of how race and gender have played a role in the acceptance of Biden’s leadership compared to Harris’s. She urged her party to unite behind Harris to increase their chances of winning the election.
Disney was among a group of prominent Democratic donors who expressed dissatisfaction with Biden, particularly in light of his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from donors and a decline in financial support contributed to Biden’s decision to exit the race. In addition, influential figures like George Soros and his son Alex Soros have also endorsed Harris following Biden’s announcement.