Abigail Disney, heiress and granddaughter of a co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, announced she will begin donating to the Democratic Party again now that President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race. Earlier this month, she had stated that she would cease her contributions until the party replaced Biden at the top of the ticket.
In an email to CNBC on Monday, Disney confirmed her decision to resume support, noting that Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency influenced her choice. When she first indicated her intention to withhold donations, she expressed strong support for Harris.
Disney praised Harris, stating, “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 if Democrats can find a way to stop quibbling and rally around her, we can win this election by a lot.”
Her previous decision to stop donations was part of a broader backlash from elite Democratic donors after Biden’s underwhelming debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from major donors contributed to Biden’s decision to step back. Following Biden’s withdrawal, notable figures like George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also expressed their endorsement for Harris.