Heiress Abigail Disney has announced that she will resume her financial support for the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has decided not to seek reelection.
Disney, a member of the founding family of The Walt Disney Company, had previously stated that she would cease all contributions to the party unless Biden was replaced as the candidate. In a recent email to CNBC, she confirmed her renewed support, saying, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” following Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidential nomination.
When Disney initially withheld her donations, she expressed her backing for Harris, noting, “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 let’s not kid ourselves about where race and gender figure in that inequity) and if Democrats can find a way to stop quibbling and rally around her, we can win this election by a lot.”
Disney’s move aligns with a wider reaction among elite Democratic donors who were discontented with Biden’s performance, particularly after a challenging debate against former President Donald Trump. Reports indicate that pressure from donors and diminishing financial support contributed to Biden’s decision to step aside from the race.
Following Biden’s announcement, notable figures such as George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have also expressed their support for Harris.