Marianne Williamson for President
Campaign2024 United States presidential election (Democratic Party primaries)
CandidateMarianne Williamson
StatusAnnounced: March 4, 2023
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Key peopleCarlos Cardona (campaign manager)[1]

Peter Daou (former campaign manager)[2]
Harvey J. Kaye (campaign advisor)[3]

Robin Vogt (national volunteer coordinator)[4][5]
SloganA New Beginning
Disrupt the System
Dedicated to the People
Website
Official website

Marianne Williamson, an author, political activist, and candidate for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2020, announced her campaign for the 2024 United States presidential election on March 4, 2023.[6] Williamson was the first major Democratic candidate to officially announce their candidacy,[7][8] as President Joe Biden did not announce his re-election bid until April 2023.[9]

Background

Williamson speaking with supporters at the 2019 Iowa State Fair

Williamson first ran for office in the 2014 U.S. House elections, seeking to represent California's 33rd congressional district as an independent. She placed third in the nonpartisan blanket primary and did not advance to the general election.[10] She later ran a campaign for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential nomination.[11] She formally ended her campaign on January 10, 2020,[12] endorsing Bernie Sanders and then Joe Biden as the nominee.[13][14]

Campaign

Announcement and launch

Yard sign design for Williamson's 2024 presidential campaign

On February 18, 2023, Williamson confirmed she would make "an important announcement" in Washington, D.C., on March 4 regarding the 2024 presidential election.[15] In an interview with Politico published the day before she teased the announcement, she said if she were to run, she would remain with the Democratic Party, in an apparent move to set up a primary challenge against incumbent President Joe Biden; she stated a factor into her decision would be to address what she described as Biden's "message that the economy is getting stronger".[16]

Williamson formally announced her candidacy in a twenty-minute speech she delivered at Union Station.[17] Facing steep competition in the primary against an incumbent, several journalists and commentators have deemed her campaign a "long shot".[18] Some Williamson supporters have criticized the media for focusing on their view of her as a long shot candidate, rather than on the substance of her platform, thereby suppressing her ability to reach potential supporters.[19][20]

In late November 2023, Williamson and fellow Biden challengers, Dean Phillips and Cenk Uygur, claimed they were unfairly disqualified from getting on the Florida Democratic Party primary ballot, which the party discounted.[21] The following week, the underdog trio arranged to appear together and respond to the Republican candidates' Dec. 6 debate and discuss their policy positions on Uygur's The Young Turks (TYT) network.[22][23]

Staff relations

Williamson's campaign has had trouble with maintaining relations with her staff. In March 2023, Politico published a report detailing Williamson's alleged abuses towards her staffers on her 2020 campaign. The staffers, who remained anonymous due to having signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), described a toxic work environment. One reported 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.[24] Williamson has called the article a "distraction" and a "hit piece," but acknowledged she had room for personal growth.[25]

On May 20, 2023, Williamson's campaign manager Peter Daou announced via Twitter he was leaving the Williamson campaign,[26] citing a need to care for his and his wife's ailing parents,[27] and stating that he still "believe[s] deeply in the campaign’s platform."[28] Additionally, her deputy campaign manager Jason Call told Politico that he had resigned the day before, but refused to provide any more details.[26] In September 2023, Daou became the campaign manager for Cornel West's 2024 presidential run under the Green Party ticket.[29]

In June 2023, Williamson's second campaign manager, Roza Calderon, left the campaign, with a friend contending that Calderon had "tried to right the ship and lead this campaign. Marianne knocked her down every chance she got."[30]

In early July 2023, six more staff members left the Williamson campaign in a mix of firings and resignations, which included her entire South Carolina team.[31] Reportedly, several staff members had been disappointed with Williamson about her lack of ballot access operations. Williamson has announced a new book scheduled to come out in September 2023, which led one of the former staffers to call her campaign a "grift" for media attention to promote her new book.[32]

Political positions

Described as a progressive Democrat,[33] Williamson's policies are similar to those of her former 2020 rival Bernie Sanders,[34] whom she initially endorsed after exiting that race,[35] and by whom she has been praised,[36] although Sanders has endorsed Biden.[37] According to ABC News, her priorities include free healthcare, free college, and free childcare.[38] Williamson promotes progressive / social democratic policies in the spirit of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, such as a 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights[39] promoted by her friend, campaign advisor and FDR historian, Prof. Harvey J. Kaye and Alan Minsky of the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA).[40][41]

Williamson has called for creating a Department of Peace,[42] which would promote peace and diplomacy, as well as a Department of Children and Youth, which Williamson says are severely neglected and calls the current treatment of children by the government "collective neglection".[42] She believes the United States needs mass-mobilization in order to prevent a climate catastrophe.[43] She also supports certain proposed constitutional amendments, such as the Equal Rights Amendment and a proposed amendment to enshrine rights for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.[44]

Williamson expressed support for universal-basic-income during her 2020 presidential run,[45][46] but as of recently it has not been present.

Polling

Williamson has mostly averaged around the high single digits in polls.[47] Her highest poll number thus far was 13% in a November Fox News poll.[48]

Endorsements

Some early supporters of Williamson include actor Keith David,[49] as well as political commentators Krystal Ball and Kyle Kulinski.[50]

References

  1. ↑ Reynolds, Nick (June 29, 2023). "Marianne Williamson's New Campaign Manager Ready to 'Expose' Democrats". Newsweek. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ Brittany Gibson (May 22, 2023). "Marianne Williamson loses top 2 campaign officials in a matter of days". Politico. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ Kaye, Harvey (September 20, 2023). "Who Should Lead the Democratic Party in 2024?". Divided We Fall. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ "New endorsements + Update from the road in NH!". Archive of Political Emails. July 5, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to Volunteer Group". Marianne Williamson 2024. Archived from the original on October 29, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  6. ↑ Weissert, Will (March 4, 2023). "Marianne Williamson opens long shot 2024 challenge to Biden". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  7. ↑ Cadelago, Christopher; Lemire, Jonathan; Stokols, Eli; Otterbein, Holly; Schneider, Elena; Kapos, Shia (February 22, 2023). "Biden may not run — and top Dems are quietly preparing". POLITICO. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  8. ↑ Heilman, Greg (March 5, 2023). "Who is Marianne Williamson, the newly announced Democratic presidential candidate for 2024?". Diario AS. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  9. ↑ Cadelago, Christopher; Lemire, Jonathan (April 25, 2023). "Biden dives back in, announces reelection bid". Politico. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Marianne Williamson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ Scocca, Tom (August 21, 2020). "Marianne Williamson Won the Democratic Primary". Slate. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Antonia Blumberg; Lydia O’Connor (January 10, 2020). "Marianne Williamson Drops Out Of Presidential Race". HuffPost.
  13. ↑ Perano, Ursula (February 23, 2020). "Marianne Williamson endorses Bernie Sanders". Axios.
  14. ↑ Williamson, Marianne [@marwilliamson] (August 19, 2020). "We need to elect @JoeBiden because there's a fascist in the White House.Period.Full stop. But we also need to see through the systemic corruption of our current political system & reinvent it quickly. It's an unworthy container for our collective longing to create a better world" (Tweet). Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ Shapero, Julia (February 18, 2023). "Marianne Williamson to make 'important announcement' on March 4". The Hill. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  16. ↑ Egan, Lauren; Stokols, Eli (February 17, 2023). "Marianne Williamson is entering the chat". Politico. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  17. ↑ King, Ryan (March 4, 2023). "Marianne Williamson launches 2024 campaign with attack on economy". Washington Examiner. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ "MSNBC's Mehdi Hasan SMEARS Marianne as Spoiler". Breaking Points. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Media Already SMEARING Marianne Williamson". The Kyle Kulinski Show. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  21. ↑ Perry, Mitch (December 2, 2023). "Dem presidential candidates left off the FL ballot are digging in; party is standing by the process". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  22. ↑ "The Hill: Biden primary challengers to appear in televised event after GOP debate". The Hill. Retrieved December 6, 2023. it would give the three candidates "a platform to speak about their agenda, policy positions and respond to the GOP debate in this unique coverage format."
  23. ↑ "TYT is the First to Host all Democratic Challengers to President Joe Biden in Wednesday Debate Coverage". FOX8 WGHP. December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  24. ↑ Egan, Lauren (March 15, 2023). "Marianne Williamson's 'abusive' treatment of 2020 campaign staff, revealed". Politico. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Marianne Williamson responds to Politico article alleging abuse toward staff". BBC News. March 16, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  26. 1 2 Gibson, Brittany (May 22, 2023). "Marianne Williamson loses top 2 campaign officials in a matter of days". POLITICO. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  27. ↑ Daou, Peter. "Status - Peter Daou". Twitter. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  28. ↑ Trudo, Hanna (May 22, 2023). "Marianne Williamson loses two key campaign officials". The Hill. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  29. ↑ Fung, Katherine (September 11, 2023). "Democrat Who Left Party Over Ignored Groping Claims Backs Cornel West". Newsweek. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  30. ↑ Gibson, Brittany (June 20, 2023). "Marianne Williamson loses second campaign manager in two months". POLITICO. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  31. ↑ Trudo, Hanna (July 6, 2023). "Marianne Williamson's campaign suffers new round of staff exits". The Hill. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Marianne Williamson keeps bleeding staff: 6 more depart in internal feud". POLITICO. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Marianne Williamson on the Issues". On the Issues.
  34. ↑ "Marianne Williamson becomes 1st Democrat to enter presidential race". www.ny1.com. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  35. ↑ Grayer, Annie (February 24, 2020). "Marianne Williamson endorses Bernie Sanders for president". CNN. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Bernie Sanders says Marianne Williamson will run a 'strong campaign' and raise 'very important issues' in 2024". Yahoo News. March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Bernie Sanders endorses Biden, rules out 2024 bid of his own". AP News. April 25, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  38. ↑ Helmore, Edward (March 5, 2023). "Marianne Williamson says 2024 bid is not a challenge to Biden but to a system". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Media ignored Marianne Williamson 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights". NJTODAY.NET. May 22, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Opinion | A Call for All Progressive Candidates and Officeholders to Embrace a 21st Century Economic Bill of Rights | Common Dreams". www.commondreams.org. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  41. ↑ "An Economic Bill of Rights | Marianne 2024 - proud to be her advisor". Twitter. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  42. 1 2 "Marianne Williamson 2024 | Official Presidential Campaign Website". Marianne 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Climate Action Policy Statement". Marianne 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  44. ↑ "LGBTQIA+ Rights Policy Statement". Marianne 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  45. ↑ Guzman, Zack (February 4, 2020). "Marianne Williamson supports Yang's UBI but says 'it's not the second coming of Christ' for student loan crisis". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  46. ↑ Clifford, Catherine (August 21, 2019). "Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson, like opponent Andrew Yang, wants to give every adult $1,000 per month". CNBC. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  47. ↑ Nichols, John (November 22, 2023). "Marianne Williamson Is Polling Just As Well Against Biden as Nikki Haley Is Against Trump". The Nation. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  48. ↑ Blanton, Dana (November 15, 2023). "Fox News Poll: Support for Trump hits 62% in GOP primary". Fox News. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  49. ↑ Webber, Rod; Pespisa, Lauren (April 17, 2023). "Marianne Williamson, Cornel West and MSFB at "Dept of P.E.A.C.E" Awards". YouTube. Rod Webber's Dumpster Fire Emporium. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  50. ↑ King, Ryan (March 4, 2023). "Allies of Marianne Williamson lay out game plan to take down Biden". The Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
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