As America gears up for yet another Presidential election, there is controversy in the Democratic Party over whether or not President Joe Biden will run again for a second term. Generally, it is unheard of for an incumbent President not to run for a second term with the full backing of their party. In fact, according to FiveThirtyEight, no Presidential candidate has unseated an incumbent in a primary during the “modern primary era.” However, given Biden’s 80-year-old age and a recent Associated Press poll showing that just 37% of Democrats want him to run again, this may not be the case in 2024. And in the current political era, unprecedented seems to have become the new normal.
Although there is a great desire to replace Joe Biden, there is little consensus on who would be a suitable fit. But, one candidate has made an early and unconventional splash: Marianne Williamson.
Williamson ran an unsuccessful primary campaign during the crowded Democratic race in 2020. Despite this, she is taking another shot at the Presidency with a progressive and spiritually-inspired campaign. According to her campaign website, she is an “author, political activist, and spiritual thought leader” who has written multiple bestselling books of the spiritual-not-religious genre. She also founded Project Angel Food in 1989, an organization which helped deliver meals to HIV/AIDS victims, and she co-founded The Peace Alliance, a group which calls for moving “public policy towards a culture of peace” and calls for the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace.
Notably, her resume does not include any prior holding of public office. However, after President Donald Trump was elected in 2016 without any prior political experience, this shortcoming may become less and less important in modern politics. In fact, Williamson is attempting to play her outsider status to her advantage. She is running as an anti-status quo progressive and has been critical of the Democratic Party’s corporate ties and especially President Biden’s moderate stances. In fact, her campaign website is filled with policies like universal healthcare, the creation of a U.S. Department of Children and Youth, radical climate action, reparations for Black Americans, and economic changes that stand to the left of even many Democrats.
Given her progressive stance, many of Williamson’s early followers can be found among Generation Z, which Pew Research Center has called “progressive and pro-government” as well as “more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation.” Her Gen Z appeal can especially be seen on TikTok, where the #mariannewilliamson hashtag has 63 million views and counting and her official TikTok account has already amassed 366.2 thousand followers. This is translating into real-life support as well: A recent Echelon Insights poll found that 10% of Democratic voters would support Williamson in the primary which, while low, is significant given that she is facing an incumbent President of her own party.
Gen Z voters are excited by Willamson’s seeming ability to think outside the box and try new solutions. Senior Kiley Bell, who is 18 and plans to vote in the 2024 Democratic primaries, said that she supports Marianne Williamson “[b]ecause she isn’t afraid to defend policies that, while never tried before, are necessary to solve major problems like climate change, economic inequality, racism, and more.” Bell went on the say that Williamson is “[m]uch more trustworthy than traditional politicians including Joe Biden.”
However, it is worth noting that Williamson’s campaign is still a long-shot. She has faced criticism from mainstream media outlets for her further left positions and a political analysis from FiveThirtyEight said that “she doesn’t fit the profile of someone who could give Biden a real run for his money.” And with almost a year to go before the first votes are cast in the Democratic primary, Williamson has a lot of work to do with very little time in order to present a feasible challenge to the sitting President.
While the fate of Willamson’s campaign and the 2024 election itself remains unclear, it does seem undeniable that, left or right, Americans, especially young ones, are thirsty for political change and they’re willing to back unusual candidates to get it.