Abigail Disney, heiress to the Disney fortune, announced that she will resume her donations to the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race. Disney, whose grandfather was a co-founder of The Walt Disney Company, had previously stated that she would halt her contributions until the party replaced Biden as its nominee.
In an email response to CNBC on Monday, Disney confirmed her intention to support the party again, now that Biden has declared his endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
When she initially chose to stop her donations, Disney expressed her support for Harris, highlighting the Vice President’s capabilities. She emphasized that if the Democratic Party could unite behind Harris and overlook the biases related to gender and race that have influenced their treatment of candidates, they could secure a significant victory in the upcoming election.
Disney’s decision reflects a broader discontent among elite Democratic donors following Biden’s poor debate performances against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that pressure from this donor class contributed to Biden’s decision to step back and allow Harris to take the lead. Notably, George Soros and his son, Alex, also endorsed Harris following Biden’s announcement.