Vice President Kamala Harris convened an emergency meeting with major Democratic donors to address “urgent, emerging” issues related to the 2024 campaign, according to sources and an email obtained by The New York Times.
The call, endorsed by prominent venture capitalist Reid Hoffman, highlighted the rapidly changing political landscape and the high stakes of the upcoming election.
Hoffman, in his email to “friends and allies,” stressed the critical work required to safeguard democracy, reflecting the concerns shared by many within the Democratic Party.
“With the stakes as high as they are this cycle, we have to remain focused on the critical work that needs to be done to protect our democracy,” he wrote reports The New York Times.
NBC News reported that Harris was selected to lead the call by President Joe Biden’s advisers. The vice president’s prominent role comes as Biden faces mounting pressure from lawmakers to consider stepping down amid concerns about his age and health.
These concerns have led to speculation about Harris as a potential successor for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Several influential Democratic donors, including Abigail Disney, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, and philanthropist Gideon Stein, have paused their donations following Biden’s poor performance in a recent debate against Donald Trump.
In response, Harris’s allies have begun reaching out to potentially disaffected donors, particularly focusing on female donors.
“What’s important is that there’s a massive show of support for her right away, which shows a signal that we’re all in for her,” a leader of a women’s political group told Politico.
Despite these developments, Biden continues to assert his intention to remain the Democratic nominee. However, discussions within his family about a potential exit from the race have been reported.
Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with several House Democrats, have called on Biden to reconsider his candidacy.
In a statement released on Friday, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the campaign, stating:
“I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week to continue exposing the threat of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda while making the case for my own record and the vision that I have for America: one where we save our democracy, protect our rights and freedoms, and create opportunity for everyone. The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win.”
The Democratic Party faces significant challenges and decisions, with Harris’s emergency meeting signaling the urgency and complexity of the current political moment.
