Abigail Disney, the heiress and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, has announced that she will resume her financial support for the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has decided not to seek reelection.
Earlier this month, Disney had stated her intention to halt donations until Biden was replaced at the top of the ticket. However, in an email to CNBC on Monday, she confirmed her commitment to support the party again now that Biden has withdrawn and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
When she initially announced her decision to withhold contributions, Disney publicly endorsed Harris, remarking on the Vice President’s potential. “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,” she stated.
Disney was among several prominent Democratic donors who expressed dissatisfaction with Biden’s leadership, particularly following an underwhelming debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that growing pressure from the donor class and a decrease in funding were factors that influenced Biden’s decision to step aside. Following this announcement, notable donors including George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also voiced their support for Harris.