Marianne Williamson

About Marianne Williamson

Marianne Deborah Williamson is an American author, spiritual leader, and political activist. She is the author of 17 books, including four New York Times number-one bestsellers, and is widely known for her career as a popularizer of A Course in Miracles and her extensive philanthropic work. She has also been a candidate for public office, seeking the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 2020 and 2024.

Williamson attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, where she studied theater and philosophy for two years before dropping out to pursue a career as a cabaret singer in New York City.

In 1979, Williamson returned to Houston, where she ran a metaphysical bookstore. During this time, she began deeply studying A Course in Miracles, a book of spiritual self-study compiled by Helen Schucman.

In 1983, she moved to Los Angeles and began lecturing on the text. Her lectures rapidly grew in popularity, attracting large crowds, including many individuals affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Williamson published her first book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, in 1992. The book became a massive commercial success and a New York Times bestseller after she featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Williamson went on to publish 16 more books, including A Woman's Worth (1993), Illuminata: A Return to Prayer (1994), and Tears to Triumph (2016). From 1998 to 2002, she served as the spiritual leader for the Church of Today, a Unity Church in Warren, Michigan.

In 1989, Williamson founded Project Angel Food, a non-profit organization that initially provided free home-delivered meals to patients living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles. The organization has since expanded its services to assist people living with a variety of life-threatening illnesses. She also co-founded the Centers for Living, which provided emotional and psychological support to people facing life-challenging illnesses. In 2004, she co-founded The Peace Alliance, a grassroots advocacy group that lobbies for the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace.

Williamson has transitioned into electoral politics several times, advocating for what she describes as a "politics of conscience."
• 2014 Congressional Campaign: She ran as an Independent candidate to represent California's 33rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, finishing fourth in the primary with 13.2% of the vote.
• 2020 Presidential Campaign: Williamson officially launched a campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. She gained significant media attention during the early primary debates for her unique rhetoric regarding spiritual healing and systemic societal issues. She withdrew from the race in January 2020 and later endorsed Bernie Sanders.
• 2024 Presidential Campaign: In March 2023, Williamson became the first major Democrat to challenge incumbent President Joe Biden for the 2024 nomination. Her platform focused on progressive economic policies, universal healthcare, paid family leave, and climate change action. She suspended her campaign in early 2024.
• 2025 DNC Chair Election: Williamson later mounted a campaign for the leadership chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Williamson is of Russian Jewish descent.