Marianne Williamson, an Oprah Winfrey-approved author and motivational speaker, has wooed enough donors to qualify for the Democratic National Committee’s first 2020 presidential primary debate.
“I am grateful to the many people who took it upon themselves to help create this significant achievement. Ours has been — and will continue to be — a campaign of ideas that people care about and that they are willing to stand behind. It takes a certain kind of audacity to take a stand for something truly new,” Williamson said in a statement announcing her campaign had met the DNC’s fundraising threshold.
Williamson, a political novice, beat veterans Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Reps. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, and Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper in attracting the number of contributors needed to walk out onto the debate stage.
Given the size of the field, the DNC this year introduced fundraising and polling targets candidates must reach to take part in the prime-time events, considered to be an important platform to introduce themselves to voters and distinguish themselves from one another. White House hopefuls must attract 65,000 unique donors and a minimum of 200 unique donors per state in at least 20 states. Contenders must also register 1% or more support in three polls. The party has additionally capped the number of debate participants to 20.
Williamson wrote the 1997 bestselling book, Healing the Soul of America, and founded nonprofit organization Project Angel Food before launching her presidential campaign in January. Her social media influence, including 2.61 million Twitter followers, was one of the reasons CNN dedicated an hourlong town hall-style show to her in April.
The DNC’s first debate will be in Miami, Fla., on June 26 and June 27. The second event will be in Detroit, Mich., on July 30 and July 31.
