Abigail Disney, an heiress and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, announced she will resume her financial contributions to the Democratic Party after President Joe Biden decided not to run for reelection. Disney had previously stated that she would stop donating until the party found a replacement for Biden. In an email to CNBC, she confirmed her support for the party now that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 presidential candidate.
When she initially paused her donations, Disney expressed her backing for Harris, stating that if the Democratic Party could rally behind the Vice President and overlook the challenges she faces, they would have a strong chance of winning the election. Disney highlighted perceived biases related to race and gender that may have contributed to the different treatment between Harris and Biden.
Her decision to withdraw support was echoed by several elite Democratic donors who were dissatisfied with Biden’s performance, especially following his debate against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from these donors played a role in prompting Biden’s exit from the race. Notably, political figures like George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also expressed their support for Harris after Biden’s announcement.