Around New England

Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Campaign Staff Disappears

January 3, 2020

Marianne Williamson has gotten rid of all presidential campaign staff, both nationally and in New Hampshire.

The Democrat, who has never held elected office, laid off all paid campaign workers earlier this week, as WMUR-TV Channel 9 in Manchester, New Hampshire reported on Thursday evening, January 2.

Williamson, 67, a former pastor and spiritual psychotherapist, recommends enlightenment and love as means to improve people’s lives. She also supports legal abortion, federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and mandatory coverage of abortion by health insurance.

Williamson’s charismatic and offbeat comments during early Democratic debates sparked interest in her campaign, which has since dropped off.

At her campaign’s peak, Williamson had 45 campaign staffers between four states. Her staff in New Hampshire included former U.S. Representative Paul Hodes as a senior adviser. Hodes represented the state’s second congressional district from 2007 to 2011.

Of the layoff news, Hodes told WMUR, “The story is accurate. Marianne is bringing a vital message to the campaign and I wish her well going forward.”

Even with the layoffs, Williamson wrote in a statement posted to her web site on Thursday night that she will continue running for president.

“We’ve had a wonderful team, and I am deeply grateful for their energy and talents. But as of today, we cannot afford a traditional campaign staff,” she wrote. “I am not suspending my candidacy, however; a campaign not having a huge war chest should not be what determines its fate.”

As of Friday, January 3, Williamson polled at 0.3 percent in the New Hampshire primary, according to FiveThirtyEight. 

With Williamson staying in the race, there are still 14 candidates in the Democratic primary.