Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Stay on top of the latest market trends
Subscribe to Axios Markets for the latest market trends and economic insights. Sign up for free.
Sports news worthy of your time
Binge on the stats and stories that drive the sports world with Axios Sports. Sign up for free.
Tech news worthy of your time
Get our smart take on technology from the Valley and D.C. with Axios Login. Sign up for free.
Get the inside stories
Get an insider's guide to the new White House with Axios Sneak Peek. Sign up for free.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Want a daily digest of the top Denver news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Want a daily digest of the top Des Moines news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Want a daily digest of the top Twin Cities news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Want a daily digest of the top Tampa Bay news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Want a daily digest of the top Charlotte news?
Get a daily digest of the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Marianne Williamson. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images
Editor's Note: Williamson dropped out of contention for the Democratic presidential nomination on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. Below is our original article on her candidacy.
Self-help author and spiritual adviser Marianne Williamson, who has never before held public office, says she's running for president because the country is in need of a "moral and spiritual awakening." Williamson has penned 13 books, four of which have been New York Times number one bestsellers. She has officially qualified for the DNC debates, having reached 65,000 individual donors.
Key facts about Williamson:
- Current position: Spiritual leader, author and activist
- Age: 66
- Born: Houston
- Undergraduate: Pomona College (left after 2 years)
- Date candidacy announced: January 28, 2019
- Previous roles: In 2014, Williamson ran as an independent in California's 33rd district congressional race and placed fourth out of 16 candidates, winning 13.2% of the vote.
Williamson's stance on key issues:
- Health care: Supports a "Medicare for All model," according to her campaign website.
- Education: Supports universal pre-school and free college.
- Green New Deal: Supports.
- Immigration: She supports DACA and a full path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants with no "serious criminal background."
- Israeli-Palestinian peace process: "I don’t think the ultimate answer will be about settlements or checkpoints,” Williamson told a Jewish news site. "The work of the genuine peace builders must be on the level of the heart.” She added that the U.S. must return to "where it can be considered an honest broker" to play a useful role.
- Reparations: In an interview with CNN, Williamson called for $100 billion to be paid to African Americans in reparations for slavery, with $10 billion per year distributed over 10 years.
- Children: Following through on a debate-stage promise to make America the best place in the world to raise a child, Williamson has proposed establishing a new government department dedicated to children and youth.
Key criticism of Marianne Williamson:
- Staff treatment: In a 1992 article, Williamson was criticized for her interpersonal skills and management style — a claim she acknowledged she could work on. At the time, she referred to herself as "the bitch for God."
- Anonymity and inexperience: Williamson has never held public office before and has less name-recognition than many of her 2020 competitors.
1 fun thing about Marianne Williamson:
- Williamson appeared many times on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and was often called Oprah's spiritual adviser, according to Vox.
Go deeper: Everything you need to know about the other 2020 candidates