History of Marianne Williamson in Timeline
Marianne Williamson is an American author, speaker, and political activist known for her spiritual teachings and self-help books. Her book, *A Return to Love*, became a New York Times Best Seller, boosting her prominence. She gained wider recognition through appearances on *The Oprah Winfrey Show*, where she served as a spiritual advisor. Williamson has also been involved in political activism.
July 8, 1952: Marianne Williamson Born
On July 8, 1952, Marianne Deborah Williamson was born. She is an American author, speaker, and political activist.
1952: Born in Houston, Texas
1973: Dropped out of college
In 1973, Williamson dropped out of college and lived "a nomadic existence" during what she calls "her wasted decade".
1976: Developed Interest in "A Course in Miracles"
In 1976, Williamson, initially uninterested, developed an interest in Helen Schucman's book "A Course in Miracles", exploring spirituality, metaphysics, and meditation. She reconciled the Course with her Jewishness.
1979: Brief Marriage
In 1979, Marianne Williamson was briefly married to a Houston businessman, with Williamson stating the marriage lasted "for a minute and a half."
1979: Return to Houston
In 1979, Williamson returned to Houston, where she ran a metaphysical bookstore coffee shop, sang Gershwin standards in a nightclub, got married and divorced "almost immediately", and underwent a "spiritual surrender".
1983: Move to Los Angeles
In 1983, Williamson moved to Los Angeles and got an apartment in Hollywood, where her roommate was 17-year-old Laura Dern. Dern has stated that Williamson "held prayer groups in our living room."
1987: Founded Center for Living
In 1987, Marianne Williamson founded the Center for Living, an organization involved with charity work.
1987: Lectures in New York
In 1987, Williamson began lecturing monthly in New York. Eventually, she was invited to speak throughout the U.S. and Europe.
1989: Founded Project Angel Food
In 1989, Marianne Williamson founded Project Angel Food, an organization involved with charity work.
1989: Opened Second Center for Living in New York City
In 1989, after receiving another advance from David Geffen, Marianne Williamson opened a second Center for Living in New York City. This location faced challenges due to conflicts regarding Williamson's management style.
1990: Birth of Daughter
In 1990, Marianne Williamson gave birth to a daughter.
March 1992: Resigned from Project Angel Food
In March 1992, Marianne Williamson resigned from Project Angel Food after employees demanded her resignation, the reinstatement of her predecessor, and a replacement of the board, threatening unionization if she did not resign.
1992: A Return to Love Published
Accusations of Williamson telling gay men not to take medication for AIDS, of implying that they were "not positive enough" to counter the disease, of telling them that they "deserved" the disease, and of telling them to "pray the AIDS away." She has repeatedly denied these accusations. Most of the accusations appeared to stem from excerpts or paraphrases of her 1992 book A Return to Love.
1992: Project Angel Food Success
By 1992, Project Angel Food had raised over $1.5 million and was delivering nearly 400 hot meals a day to homebound AIDS patients in Los Angeles.
1992: First Biography Published
In 1992, Oumano published the first, and primarily positive, biography on Marianne Williamson.
1992: Published "A Return to Love"
In 1992, Williamson's most popular work "A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles" was published. The book appeared on The New York Times bestseller list for 39 weeks.
1992: Stepped Down from Centers for Living
In the summer of 1992, Marianne Williamson stepped down from her role at the Centers for Living. She provided the New York Center with additional funding and remained an advisor. She disputed claims that she lost trust in board members, asserting that she intended to step down as President.
1998: Project Angel Food operations
By 1998, Project Angel Food had over 1,500 volunteers and nearly 1,000 clients.
1998: Co-founded Global Renaissance Alliance
In 1998, Marianne Williamson co-founded the non-profit Global Renaissance Alliance (GSA) with Neale Donald Walsch. The organization established a network of "citizen salons" to pray for national growth, peace and liberal causes.
1998: Founded the Peace Alliance
In 1998, Marianne Williamson founded the Peace Alliance, an organization involved with charity work.
2003: Resigned from Church Renaissance Unity
In 2003, Williamson resigned from the Church Renaissance Unity Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship. For a time, she lectured at Methodist, Episcopal and Unitarian churches.
2004: GSA Renamed The Peace Alliance
In 2004, the Global Renaissance Alliance's name was changed to The Peace Alliance with a new mandate focused on grassroots education and advocacy organization. The intended purpose was to increase U.S. government support for peace-building approaches to domestic and international conflicts.
2006: Named One of 50 Most Influential Baby Boomers
In 2006, a Newsweek poll named Marianne Williamson one of the 50 most influential baby boomers.
2010: Launched Sister Giant Conferences
In 2010, Marianne Williamson launched "Sister Giant", a series of conferences to encourage more women to run for office and "start a new conversation about transformational politics".
2012: Partnership with Yale's Women's Campaign School
In 2012, Yale University's Women's Campaign School partnered with the Sister Giant conferences, focusing on how to better address social issues.
2013: Reported Estimated Assets
In 2013, Marianne Williamson reported having assets estimated to be valued between $1 million and $5 million (not including personal residences).
2014: Runs for Congress
In 2014, Williamson ran as an Independent for California's 33rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2014: Congressional Run
In 2014, Williamson ran unsuccessfully as an independent for California's 33rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, finishing fourth with 13.2% of the vote.
2017: Board Member of Results Educational Fund
Until 2017, Marianne Williamson was a board member of Results Educational Fund, a nonprofit charity dedicated to finding long-term solutions to poverty, and its sister organization, Results Inc.
November 4, 2018: Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom Address
On November 4, 2018, Williamson gave a keynote address to several hundred Muslim and Jewish women at the Sisterhood of Salaam-Shalom conference in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
November 15, 2018: Presidential Exploratory Committee
On November 15, 2018, Williamson announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee.
2018: Project Angel Food Expansion
As of 2018, Project Angel Food expanded its services and delivered 12,000 meals weekly throughout Los Angeles.
January 28, 2019: Launched Presidential Campaign
On January 28, 2019, Williamson officially launched her presidential campaign before an audience of 2,000 people in Los Angeles.
July 30, 2019: Debate Performance
After the July 30, 2019, Democratic debate, New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie wrote, "It feels insane to say this, but Williamson out-debated virtually everyone else on the stage. She gave a compelling answer on reparations and returned again and again to the most important issue for Democratic voters, beating Trump."
2019: Williamson remains a trustee of Project Angel Food
As of 2019, Marianne Williamson remains a trustee of Project Angel Food.
2019: Published 14 Books
As of 2019, Williamson has written 14 books. Seven have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with four reaching number one. She has sold more than three million books.
2019: Met Polling Criteria
In 2019, Williamson met the polling criteria for primary debates, with three unique polls at one percent from qualifying pollsters, on May 23.
January 10, 2020: Ended Presidential Campaign
On January 10, 2020, Williamson announced the end of her campaign and pledged to support the Democratic nominee.
2020: Accusations During Presidential Campaign
During her 2020 presidential campaign, Marianne Williamson was accused of making controversial statements regarding AIDS, which she has repeatedly denied.
2020: Polarizing Image During Political Campaigns
In 2020, Marianne Williamson's image during her political campaigns polarized many, with some praising her as authentic and eloquent, while others criticizing her for lacking seriousness. Her performance during the Democratic presidential debates received both praise and criticism.
2020: Presidential Campaign
In 2020, Williamson ran for the Democratic nomination for president, eventually dropping out and endorsing Bernie Sanders.
2020: Moved to Des Moines, Iowa
In June 2020, Williamson confirmed that she had moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in advance of the 2020 caucuses.
2020: Criticism of Vogue
Marianne Williamson criticized Vogue in 2020 for its "insidious influence" when it did not include her in a photo shoot of the female presidential candidates.
2021: First Scholarly Analysis Published
In 2021, Fisher published the first scholarly and journalistic analysis in an intellectual biography of Marianne Williamson.
2022: Identified as Jewish Woman
In a 2022 interview, Marianne Williamson described herself as a "Jewish woman."
February 23, 2023: Confirmed 2024 Presidential Run
On February 23, 2023, Williamson confirmed that she would launch a run for president in the future.
March 4, 2023: Started 2024 Campaign
Williamson started her 2024 campaign on March 4, 2023.
May 20, 2023: Deputy Campaign Manager Departs
On May 20, 2023, Williamson's 2024 deputy campaign manager, Jason Call, departed from her team.
June 2023: Staff Departures
In June 2023, more staff left Williamson's team, including her new campaign manager.
July 2023: Campaign Finance Issues
In July 2023, it was reported that Williamson had contributed $220,000 to her own campaign and that the campaign's most recent financial disclosure showed $270,000 in unpaid debts.
2023: Lives in Washington, D.C.
As of 2023, Marianne Williamson lives in Washington, D.C.
2023: Value of 1989 advance from David Geffen adjusted for inflation
In 1989, Marianne Williamson received an advance of $50,000 from David Geffen to open a second Center for Living in New York City. This amount is equivalent to approximately $106,954 in 2023.
2023: Critical Discussion of Williamson's Approach to the Presidency Campaign
In 2023, a critical discussion of Marianne Williamson’s approach to the presidency campaign and her philosophy in the current context of politics appeared on the podcast site called Integral Stage
February 7, 2024: Suspended 2024 Campaign
On February 7, 2024, Williamson suspended her presidential campaign after receiving 2.9% of the vote in the Nevada Democratic primary.
February 28, 2024: Re-entered 2024 Presidential Race
On February 28, 2024, Williamson re-entered the presidential race after placing third in the Michigan Democratic primary, receiving 3% of the vote.
June 11, 2024: Suspended 2024 Campaign
On June 11, 2024, Williamson suspended her campaign for president.
July 2, 2024: Re-entered 2024 Presidential Race
On July 2, 2024, Williamson re-entered the presidential race amidst calls for Biden to drop out after his June 27 debate performance.
July 29, 2024: Ended Presidential Campaign
On July 29, 2024, Williamson ended her campaign for the final time.
December 26, 2024: Bid for DNC Chair
On December 26, 2024, Williamson announced her bid for DNC chair.
January 10, 2025: DNC Ethnic Council Exclusion
On January 10, 2025, Williamson shared on X that the DNC Ethnic Council informed her that she would be excluded from their DNC candidate forum that day, and denounced her exclusion.
February 1, 2025: Endorsed Ken Martin
On February 1, 2025, Williamson endorsed frontrunner Ken Martin for DNC chair.
