Marianne Williamson for President
Campaign2020 United States presidential election (Democratic Party primaries)
CandidateMarianne Williamson
Spiritual teacher and author[1]
EC formedNovember 15, 2018[2]
AnnouncedJanuary 28, 2019[3]
SuspendedJanuary 10, 2020
HeadquartersSacramento, California[4]
Key peopleMaurice Daniel (campaign manager)[5]
Paul Hodes (senior advisor and New Hampshire state director)[6]
ReceiptsUS$7,982,760.87[7] (December 31, 2019)
SloganJoin the Evolution[8]
Website
Official website

The 2020 presidential campaign of Marianne Williamson, an author, was announced on January 28, 2019, after the initial formation of an exploratory committee on November 15, 2018. Williamson's bid for the Democratic nomination was her second political campaign, after previously running as an independent to represent California's 33rd congressional district in 2014. Prior to her candidacy, Williamson was known as "Oprah's spiritual adviser" due to her frequent appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Williamson described herself as a "pretty straight-line progressive democrat". Her policy positions include $100 billion in reparations for slavery, a "Medicare for All model" for healthcare, a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without a "serious criminal background", establishing a "Department of Peace" to greatly expand the use of diplomacy and mediation, and support for the Green New Deal.

On January 10, 2020, Williamson announced she had ended her presidential campaign. She pledged to support the eventual Democratic nominee,[9] but later announced her endorsement for Bernie Sanders at a February 23 rally in Austin, Texas.[10]

Background

On August 2, 2018, The Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs revealed that Marianne Williamson,[11] a New Age author and spiritual leader known as "Oprah's spiritual adviser" thanks to her frequent appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show,[1] was considering a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. He reported that she had visited Iowa earlier that week, appearing at the Des Moines area as well as Fairfield, a cultural magnet for practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation technique and where the Maharishi University of Management is based.[11] Williamson had previously contested California's 33rd congressional district in the 2014 elections as a no party preference candidate, securing 13% of the vote in the state's top-two primary after self-funding $2 million in a campaign supported by Alanis Morissette and Dennis Kucinich.[11]

She made several more visits to Iowa in September and October, stopping in Sioux City and Polk City, in addition to returning to Fairfield for small events with fans and local Democrats.[12][13]

Campaign

Williamson campaigning at the Iowa State Fair.
Williamson supporters in Detroit ahead of the July debate.

On November 15, 2018, Williamson announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee in a video in which she acclaimed that there was a "miracle in this country in 1776 and we need another one," requiring "a co-creative effort, an effort of love and a gift of love, to our country and hopefully to our world."[2] Visiting New Hampshire in early January, she said that she had "received enough positive energy to make me feel I should take the next step,"[14] and subsequently hired Brent Roske to lead her operation in Iowa.[15]

Roske, a film producer who had also contested the same 2014 primary for the seat as Williamson now represented by Ted Lieu,[5][16] maintained a wide network of connections in Iowa due in part to his previous involvement in the state, working on a political television show about the 2016 caucuses.[16] In response to the Iowa Democratic Party's proposed creation of "virtual caucuses" in the 2020 race, Williamson's campaign announced that it would appoint 99 "Virtual Iowa Caucus Captains" (each assigned to a single county) to turn out supporters in both the virtual and in-person caucuses.[17]

Williamson officially launched her presidential campaign in Los Angeles on January 28, 2019,[3] in front of an audience of 2,000 attendees. She appointed Maurice Daniel, who had served alongside Donna Brazile in Dick Gephardt's campaign for the Democratic nomination in 1988, as her national campaign manager,[5] with her campaign committee, "Marianne Williamson for President," officially filed on February 4.[4] Following her Los Angeles announcement, she held her Iowa kickoff in Des Moines on January 31.[18]

On February 16, in addition to scheduling another trip to New Hampshire, Williamson's campaign announced the appointment of former Congressman Paul Hodes, who had represented New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district from 2007 to 2011, as New Hampshire state director and senior campaign advisor.[6] Former Georgia state assemblywoman Gloria Bromell Tinubu, who had returned to South Carolina in 2011 to run for Congress in the state's 7th district, and later joined Phil Noble's bid for governor in 2018 as his running mate, served as South Carolina state director and national senior advisor to the Williamson campaign.[19] She later ceased working with the campaign.[20]

On May 9, Williamson's campaign announced that she had received enough contributions from unique donors to enter the official primary debates,[21] having raised $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2019, during which the campaign received donations from 46,663 unique individuals.[22] She subsequently met the polling criteria, with three unique polls at 1% from qualifying pollsters, on May 23.[23] In June, Williamson confirmed that she had moved to Des Moines, Iowa in advance of the 2020 caucuses.[24]

Williamson's performance in the first debate was the subject of mockery for several statements. She claimed that her "first call [as President would be] to the prime minister of New Zealand," to say "girlfriend, you are so on...the United States of America is going to be the best place in the world for a child to grow up" , which led to widespread mockery in New Zealand and was labelled "bizarre" by The New Zealand Herald.[25] This, and her assertion that she would "harness love for political purposes" against Donald Trump,[26] made her the subject of many Internet memes.[27] The memes also led Republicans including Ted Cruz strategist Jeff Roe to call for donations to her campaign, to keep her on the stage for future debates to sideline the more likely candidates in favor of her.[28] Williamson subsequently drew praise for challenging libertarianism on The Rubin Report.[29] Her campaign was noted for receiving 70% of its funding from women. This was 13% higher than that of Julian Castro, the candidate with the next highest fraction of female support.[30]

On January 2, 2020, Williamson laid off her entire campaign staff, with media speculating on her possible withdrawal, though one of her former staffers said that "...she plans to continue."[31] She formally ended her campaign on January 10. She said, "To the remaining Democratic candidates, I wish you all my best on the road ahead. It was an honor being among you. Whichever one of you wins the nomination, I will be there with all my energy and in full support."[9]

On February 23, 2020, Williamson appeared at a campaign rally in Austin, Texas for US Senator Bernie Sanders and officially announced her endorsement.[10]

Staff relations

In 2023, a dozen former staffers from her 2020 campaign, who remained anonymous due to having signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), described a toxic work environment. One described it as, "It would be foaming, spitting, uncontrollable rage." "It was traumatic. And the experience, in the end, was terrifying." In contrast to her career message of love, she threw phones, some said, and shouted at them so intensely they were reduced to tears. Her anger over logistics in South Carolina had led her to strike a vehicle repeatedly, to the extent that her hand swelled so much she had to be transported for medical attention. Paul Hodes, the former U.S. congressman who served as Williamson’s 2020 New Hampshire state director, said such descriptions mirrored his own experience working with her. "Those reports of Ms. Williamson’s behavior are consistent with my observations, consistent with contemporaneous discussions I had about her conduct with staff members, and entirely consistent with my own personal experience with her behavior on multiple occasions."

In response to the allegations, Marianne Williams said such accusations of her behavior were “slanderous” and “categorically untrue" and that "Former staffers trying to score points with the political establishment by smearing me might be good for their careers, but the intention is to deflect attention from the important issues facing the American people."[32]

Political positions

Williamson has described herself as a "pretty straight-line progressive democrat," supporting an increase of the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, reducing wealth inequality, addressing climate change, and tackling student loan debt.[33] She backs a "Medicare for All model", Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without a "serious criminal background," and stated that the U.S. needs to be an "honest broker" in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[1] One of her principal plans is the establishment of a Department of Peace to greatly expand the use of diplomacy, mediation, and educational and economic development.[34] She also voices support for the Green New Deal, stricter gun control, criminal justice reform, improving public education, free college tuition, and raising the top marginal tax rate to a point where high earners pay "their fair share of taxes." She has described her policies as a "renovation" of a "sociopathic economic system" focused on "short-term profit maximization."[5]

Her signature campaign promise is a call for $100 billion in reparations for slavery to be distributed over 10 years by a group of black leaders for selected "economic and education projects,"[5][35] and later suggested distributing $200 to $500 billion on The Breakfast Club,[36] a sum far greater than any other primary contenders support. In doing so, Williamson became the only candidate in the Democratic field to submit a detailed plan for reparations for black Americans, though fellow Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Beto O’Rourke later pledged support for reparations in late February 2019.[37]

Endorsements

References

  1. 1 2 3 Yadidi, Noa (February 28, 2019). "Marianne Williamson: Everything you need to know about the 2020 candidate". Axios. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Thompson, Alex (November 16, 2018). "Oprah pal and spirituality guru plans 2020 run". Politico. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Kaji, Mina (February 20, 2019). "Marianne Williamson: Oprah confidant, author, spiritual teacher and presidential candidate". ABC News. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "FEC Form 2: Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. February 4, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Peele, Anna (February 19, 2019). "Marianne Williamson Wants to Be Your Healer in Chief". The Washington Post Magazine. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  6. 1 2 DiStaso, John [@jdistaso] (February 16, 2019). "JUST IN to @WMUR9 – Democratic presidential candidate @marwilliamson lands top NH campaign advisor – Former US Rep. @PaulHodes signs on as Senior Campaign Advisor & NH State Director. They have a busy #fitn schedule on tap. #nhpolitics #WMUR" (Tweet). Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ "Form 3P for Marianne Williamson for President".
  8. ↑ "Marianne Williamson for President | Join the Evolution". Marianne Williamson for President. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Antonia Blumberg; Lydia O’Connor (January 10, 2020). "Marianne Williamson Drops Out Of Presidential Race". HuffPost.
  10. 1 2 Grayer, Annie (February 23, 2020). "Marianne Williamson endorses Bernie Sanders for president". CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 Jacobs, Ben (August 2, 2018). "New Age author Marianne Williamson 'looking into' 2020 presidential run". The Guardian. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  12. ↑ Rynard, Pat [@IAStartingLine] (September 17, 2018). "Marianne Williamson, a best-selling author who appears to be considering a 2020 run as a Dem, was in Iowa twice this past week" (Tweet). Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Rynard, Pat (October 22, 2018). "Author Marianne Williamson Quietly Tests The 2020 Waters In Iowa". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  14. ↑ Steinhauser, Paul (January 8, 2019). "Oprah advisor to visit N.H. as she considers White House bid". Concord Monitor. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  15. ↑ Pfannenstiel, Brianne [@brianneDMR] (January 21, 2019). "Inbox: Marianne Williamson, who formed a presidential exploratory committee (…) is making 'a big announcement' Jan 28 and then will be in Des Moines for a kickoff event Jan 31. She's hired @brentroske as Iowa director for her exploratory committee. #iacaucus" (Tweet). Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via Twitter.
  16. 1 2 Rynard, Pat (February 28, 2019). "How The 2020 Candidates Are Staffing Up In Iowa". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  17. ↑ Rynard, Pat (February 28, 2019). "Marianne Williamson Recruits "Virtual Captains" For Virtual Caucus". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  18. ↑ Opsahl, Robin (January 31, 2019). "Marianne Williamson tells Iowa crowd America needs a 'moral and spiritual awakening'". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  19. ↑ Rivas, Briana (February 19, 2019). "SC native Dr. Gloria Bromell Tinubu joins Williamson 2020 campaign". WPDE. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  20. ↑ Marchant, Bristow (April 28, 2019). "Lindsey Graham gets second Democratic challenger in Senate race". The State. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  21. ↑ Stewart, Briana (May 9, 2019). "Marianne Williamson's campaign says she's qualified for the first 2020 Democratic debate". ABC News. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  22. ↑ Schouten, Fredreka (April 15, 2019). "Author Marianne Williamson raised $1.5 million in presidential bid". CNN. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  23. ↑ Shepard, Steven; Montellaro, Zach (May 23, 2019). "Spirituality guru Marianne Williamson locks in 2020 debate spot". Politico. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  24. ↑ Judd, Donald (June 6, 2019). "Marianne Williamson moves to Des Moines in bid for the Iowa caucuses". CNN. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  25. ↑ "US presidential candidate's bizarre message to Ardern". NZ Herald. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  26. ↑ Oprysko, Caitlin (June 28, 2019). "Marianne Williamson brings love, peace and a distaste for 'plans' to the debate stage". Politico. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  27. ↑ Gerken, Tom (July 1, 2019). "Marianne Williamson: Presidential hopeful winning Reddit votes". BBC News. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  28. ↑ King, Ledyard (June 28, 2019). "Republicans start donating to Marianne Williamson to keep her in future Democratic debates". USA Today. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  29. ↑ MacDonald, Tyler (July 17, 2019). "Marianne Williamson Praised By Twitter For Destroying Dave Rubin On His Own Show". Inquisitr. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  30. ↑ Kurtzleben, Danielle (November 26, 2019). "The Presidential Candidates Women Have Been Donating To". NPR. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  31. ↑ O'Keefe, Ed (January 2, 2020). "Marianne Williamson lays off entire campaign staff". CBS News. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  32. ↑ Marianne Williamson's 'abusive' treatment of 2020 campaign staff, revealed, Politico, Lauren Egan, March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  33. ↑ Rynard, Pat (February 3, 2019). "Love, Reparations, And Fighting Back: A Marianne Williamson Iowa Tour". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  34. ↑ Woodruff, Judy (June 6, 2019). Why Marianne Williamson thinks she can defeat Trump. PBS NewsHour (Video). Event occurs at 6:15 – via YouTube.
  35. ↑ Burns, Alexander; Flegenheimer, Matt; Lee, Jasmine C.; Lerer, Lisa; Martin, Jonathan (January 21, 2019). "Who's Running for President in 2020?". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  36. ↑ Wang, Esther (March 29, 2019). "Marianne Williamson Wants Your Perception to Shift". Jezebel. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  37. ↑ Herndon, Astead W. (February 21, 2019). "2020 Democrats Embrace Race-Conscious Policies, Including Reparations". The New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
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