Abigail Disney, the heiress and granddaughter of one of the co-founders of The Walt Disney Company, announced that she will resume her donations to the Democratic Party now that President Joe Biden has decided not to seek reelection. Earlier this month, she had declared that she would halt her contributions until the party replaced Biden as its nominee.
In a recent email to CNBC, she confirmed her change of heart, stating she would support the party again now that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. During her initial announcement to withhold donations, Disney expressed support for Harris, praising her as an excellent Vice President and highlighting the need for the Democratic Party to unite behind her.
Disney criticized the party’s treatment of Harris, suggesting that her perceived shortcomings are tolerated less than those of Biden, and noted the influence of race and gender in this disparity. She expressed confidence that the Democrats could achieve a significant victory in the upcoming election if they could overcome internal conflicts and rally around Harris.
Disney was among many prominent Democratic donors who voiced their dissatisfaction with Biden, particularly after his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump, which contributed to the pressure leading him to withdraw from the presidential race. Following Biden’s announcement, notable figures like George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, also expressed their endorsement of Harris.