House Democrats supporting President Biden pushed back against wealthy party donors who are threatening to withhold massive contributions to Democratic candidates if Mr. Biden refuses to withdraw from the 2024 ticket.
The caucus huddled at their party headquarters in Washington on Tuesday to discuss how to go forward after several members and prominent contributors called on Mr. Biden to step aside from the race, following a disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump.
“The donors don’t make decisions, voters make decisions,” Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas said as he rushed out of Democratic National Committee building.
Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York similarly said, “Donors do not decide the Democratic nominee. The people have heard enough from Biden.”
Elected Democrats told reporters that the majority of lawmakers at their meeting overwhelmingly support Mr. Biden if he decides to stay in the race.
Rep. Robert Garcia of California said no concerns about fundraising were raised at the meeting.
SEE ALSO: House Democrats remain divided on Biden as nominee after private meeting
One lawmaker, when asked if he was concerned about wealthy donors withholding their contributions, quoted Will Rogers: “I don’t belong to any organized party. I’m a Democrat.”
Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas, one of the few Democrats calling on Mr. Biden to withdraw from the race, said “some of the same donors [who] about a year [ago] were trying to keep any other people from getting in the race are those who are questioning whether they want to continue their investment.”
He added, “That’s not a factor for me. … I have had a tremendous outpouring of support in my district for the position I’ve taken, so many people saying, ‘Thank you for voicing this.’”
Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, who co-founded The Walt Disney Co., told CNBC last week that she plans to withhold donations to the party she has contributed to for many years until Mr. Biden drops out of the race.
“I intend to stop any contributions to the party unless and until they replace Biden at the top of the ticket. This is realism, not disrespect. Biden is a good man and has served his country admirably, but the stakes are far too high,” Ms. Disney said in a statement to the network. “If Biden does not step down, the Democrats will lose. Of that, I am absolutely certain. The consequences for the loss will be genuinely dire.”
The Disney heiress gave $50,000 to the Jane Fonda Climate political action committee in April, according to a Federal Election Commission filing. That PAC contributed $35,000 to Democratic congressional candidates, according to information at OpenSecrets.
Ms. Disney suggested Vice President Kamala Harris as an alternative to Mr. Biden.
Other Democratic donors, CNBC reported, have said they are planning to at least pause their donations to the Democratic Party until Mr. Biden steps away, including Gideon Stein, president of the Moriah Fund and Karla Jurvetson, a philanthropist and major Democratic donor.
Mr. Stein said he decided to pause planned donations of $3.5 million, earmarked for nonprofits and political organizations connected to the race for the White House.
— Lindsey McPherson contributed to this report.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
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