Marianne Williamson

Marianne Williamson
Williamson in 2019
Born
Marianne Deborah Williamson

(1952-07-08) July 8, 1952 (age 72)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Occupations
  • Author
  • teacher
  • politician
  • activist
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
WebsiteMarianne Williamson
Signature

Marianne Deborah Williamson (born July 8, 1952) is an American author, speaker, and political activist. She began her professional career as spiritual leader of the Church of Today, a Unity Church in Warren, Michigan. Williamson has written several self-help books, including A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles in 1992, which became a New York Times Best Seller. She was launched into prominence by Oprah Winfrey, being a frequent guest on her daytime talk show and becoming known as her "spiritual advisor".[1]

Williamson ran unsuccessfully as an independent for California's 33rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2014, finishing fourth with 13.2% of the vote.[2] She ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, eventually dropping out and endorsing Bernie Sanders.[3][4] She ran in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries, challenging incumbent President Joe Biden.[5] Williamson's presidential platform calls for an end to the war on drugs, a federal minimum wage increase, reparations for racial injustice, addressing climate change, and creating a U.S. Department of Peace. On February 7, 2024, she announced she had suspended her campaign after receiving 2.9% of the vote in the Nevada Democratic primary,[6] but on February 28, 2024, Williamson re-entered the presidential race after placing third in the Michigan Democratic primary, receiving 3% of the vote.[7] However, on June 11, 2024, Williamson suspended her campaign.[8] On July 2, 2024, Williamson re-entered the presidential race amidst calls for Biden to drop out after his June 27 debate performance,[9] before later dropping out again on July 29.[10]

Williamson has been actively involved with charity work, founding such organizations as Center for Living in 1987, Project Angel Food in 1989, and the Peace Alliance in 1998. She sits on the board for RESULTS, a nonprofit group which is dedicated to finding long-term solutions to poverty.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Axios was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "California Primary Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Astor, Maggie (January 10, 2020). "Marianne Williamson Drops Out Of 2020 Race". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  4. ^ Grayer, Annie (February 23, 2020). "Marianne Williamson endorses Bernie Sanders for president". CNN. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference sdutmar4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Iyer, Kaanita (February 7, 2024). "Marianne Williamson suspends long-shot Democratic presidential campaign". CNN.
  7. ^ Guilfoil, Kyla (February 28, 2024). "Marianne Williamson unsuspends her presidential campaign after placing 3rd in Michigan". NBC News. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  8. ^ Murray, Isabella (June 12, 2024). "Marianne Williamson signals end of 2024 bid now that presidential primaries have ended". ABC News. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (July 2, 2024). "Marianne Williamson calls to replace Biden: 'Today I throw my hat in the ring'". The Hill. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Lowenkron, Hadriana (July 29, 2024). "Marianne Williamson Ends Longshot 2024 Presidential Bid". Bloomberg News. Yahoo!. Retrieved July 29, 2024.