Abigail Disney, an heiress and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, has announced that she will resume her financial contributions to the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has decided not to seek reelection. Earlier this month, Disney had stated that she would halt donations until the party found a new candidate to lead the ticket.
In a recent email to CNBC, Disney confirmed her return to supporting the party, expressing her endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris, who has received Biden’s backing to run for president. At the time she paused her donations, Disney voiced her support for Harris, emphasizing that the Democrats should rally around her leadership.
Disney criticized the party’s treatment of Harris in comparison to Biden, highlighting issues of race and gender. She stated, “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 they can find a way to stop quibbling and rally around her, we can win this election by a lot.”
Her previous decision to withhold donations came after dissatisfaction among elite Democratic donors regarding Biden’s performance, which was notably evident during a debate with former President Donald Trump. This discontent among major financial backers is believed to have influenced Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race. Notably, George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have also voiced their support for Harris following Biden’s announcement.