Heiress Abigail Disney has announced that she plans to resume her donations to the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has exited the 2024 presidential race. Disney, whose grandfather was a co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, previously stated that she would halt contributions until a new candidate was chosen to lead the party.
In an email to CNBC, Disney confirmed her return to support for the party, stating, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” now that Biden has stepped down and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
When she initially decided to withhold contributions, Disney expressed her support for Harris, highlighting the Vice President’s capabilities. “We have an excellent Vice President,” she remarked, adding that the party’s perception of Harris’s shortcomings should be reconsidered in light of the inequalities faced by minority candidates.
Disney was among several prominent Democratic donors who expressed dissatisfaction with Biden, particularly after what they viewed as a poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from influential donors and a decline in financial support contributed to Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race.
Notably, billionaire philanthropist George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also endorsed Harris following Biden’s announcement of his exit.