Abigail Disney, an heiress and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, has announced she will resume her financial contributions to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race.
Earlier this month, Disney had stated she would halt her donations until the party replaced Biden at the top of the ticket. In an email to CNBC on Monday, she confirmed her intention to return to supporting the party, stating, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” after Biden officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
Disney had previously voiced her support for Harris and expressed confidence in the Vice President’s capabilities. She emphasized the importance of Democrats rallying behind 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.”
Disney’s initial decision to withdraw her donations was part of a broader dissent among elite Democratic donors in response to Biden’s poor debate performance against Donald Trump. Reports suggest that this growing pressure from the donor class contributed to Biden’s decision to exit the race. Additionally, prominent donor George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have also endorsed Harris following Biden’s announcement.