Heiress Abigail Disney has announced that she will resume her financial contributions to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Disney, whose grandfather played a significant role in founding The Walt Disney Company, had previously stated that she would halt her donations until Biden was replaced at the top of the ticket.
In a recent email to CNBC, she confirmed her decision to support the party again, now that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. When she initially paused her donations, Disney also voiced her support for Harris, highlighting the Vice President’s strengths. She expressed a desire for Democrats to rally around Harris and noted the inequities concerning how party members have tolerated the shortcomings of different candidates, citing factors such as race and gender.
Disney’s stance is reflective of a broader discontent among some elite Democratic donors, particularly following Biden’s underwhelming debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that this dissatisfaction from donors played a role in Biden’s decision to step down from the race.
Others, including prominent billionaire donor George Soros and his son Alex, have also voiced their support for Harris since the announcement of Biden’s exit.
This shift in donor sentiment could signal a renewed momentum for the Democratic Party as it prepares for the upcoming election cycle, fostering hope for a unified front under Harris’s leadership.