Heiress Abigail Disney has announced that she will resume her donations to the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Disney, a member of the family that co-founded The Walt Disney Company, previously stated she would halt contributions until the party replaced Biden as the frontrunner.
In an email to CNBC on Monday, Disney confirmed, “Yes, I will resume supporting,” now that Biden has stepped aside and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency. When she initially declared her intention to withhold donations, Disney expressed her support for Harris.
“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 said.
Disney’s decision reflects a broader sentiment among affluent Democratic donors who expressed dissatisfaction with Biden, particularly following his poor debate performance against former President Donald Trump. Reports suggest that the pressure from these donors, along with dwindling financial support, contributed to Biden’s decision to exit the race.
Notable donors, including George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have also pledged their support for Harris since Biden’s announcement.