The DNC Needs Marianne Williamson.
The Choice Is Obvious.
Conversation since the loss Democrats took this election has been that of pondering which direction the party should go. A large part of that discussion, at least behind the scenes, is who will be the next chair of the party and as a result in-control of how Democrats message and campaign for cycles to come.
For me, who has made it no secret my hope the party embraces populism, none of the early candidates had interested me.
Front-runner seemed to be Ben Wikler, chair of the party at a state level in Wisconsin. As someone with experience and reputation as an effective fundraiser his campaign was met with a warm reception.
And while on a fundraising strategy level I do find him effective, he did personally keep other Democrats off the primary ballot as part of the attempt to anoint Biden. Which is the exact kind of anti-democratic behavior the party needs to put behind itself.
Other candidates included lesser known names at various levels of the Democratic party. From another state party chair, a state senator, and even a Department of Homeland Security official. And while fine candidates in their own right, some with solid enough strategies even, none embodied the spirit of workers in America in the way the party so urgently yearned for.
That was until Marianne Williamson decided to step into the race, announcing her campaign just days ago. As an author who’s political experience begins and ends with two failed campaigns for President, aside from a half-cocked 2014 campaign for the house of representatives, her qualifications may raise concerns to some for how she could possibly be the right choice. And that’s the argument I hope to lay out today.
She Has Great Policy.
The first point is also easily the most important and cut and dry one. She has the best policy. As aforementioned, Marianne has ran two prior presidential campaigns. What was in her platform?
How about guaranteed universal healthcare, and no this won’t raise your taxes. Or a minimum wage indexed with the cost of living. Free higher education to give more opportunity and create more skilled laborers. And if that’s not enough for you, she’s also pro climate change, reproductive rights, and gun control.
These are the policies that actually address issues Americans face in their day to day life. They also poll with overwhelming support among the American people. It represents the soul of what has given the party success, from the likes of FDR to the passing of the Civil Rights Act. I think a return to that, and away from ‘corporate welfare but at least were not racist’ is the only strategy.
And its certainly a lot better than building your campaign around “Trump Bad.”
She Knows How To Message.
This has two parts to it, both equally important. The first, is she is not scared to go on opposition media and that’s for better or for worse. Through both her 2020 and 2024 campaigns she became a regular appearance on Fox News, as she was largely being left off the ostensibly left leaning news stations like CNN or MSNBC.
And to her credit, she did so without falling into the trope Fox hopes for where they bring on a Democrat just because they are willing to bash the Democratic Party. She was always just as ready to speak to the shortcomings of Republicans and would never let them masquerade as a better option to the table top issues Republicans role play that they care about.
And the second part of this is the passion in which she speaks with; the ability she has to move you with her words. Of which surely can be attributed to her experience as an author, but that makes it no less impressive.
Seriously, if you haven’t before I suggest you watch her speak on these sort of economic issues and struggles Americans face. The grace with which she can resonate with the feeling of disdain at the system, while also providing the ways it should be able to help you is masterful.
She Sees The Best In The Party.
This is one I really admire her for and its something we happen to align on. She understands the Democratic Party has its shortcomings, she understands its a shadow of what it used to represent. But she doesn’t use this as a litmus test to act better than it, or to bash it at every instance. Instead, she speaks to what she hopes the party can embody and why the people should still believe in it.
And this is even after the party all but rejected her two cycles in a row. Refusing to give her equal media coverage or a fair shake in either primary. Despite this she still comes back, tries to effect and help the party in anyway she can. She still voiced public support for Kamala Harris, she pushes back against ‘grifters’ like Tulsi Gabbard or RFK jr. The likes of which she could have easily joined, much to her monetary benefit.
And I think this is what the Democratic Party needs. If we start penalizing dissent, we become no better than MAGA. But on the other side, if we reward dissent then we lose the essence of what makes a party a party. And I believe Marianne walks that line in a way many corporate Democrats are too afraid too.
A party led by Joe Biden would never remove money from politics. Nor would Kamala Harris. And for the possible Republicans foaming at the mouth reading that, its tenfold worse under Trump or any other establishment republican. But a party directed on messaging by the likes of Marianne, led on policy by the likes of an AOC, now that party has a chance to really make change for the working class.
If Not Her, Then Who?
I wanted to add a sort of honorable mentions section here to speak on other Democrats I think could do really well in this role. Now when I speak on this I will be trying to limit it to somewhat realistic standards. Meaning I won’t be listing AOC as a possible candidate as I don’t see a world she leaves the house to run for this position. But with that being said, let’s see what names I can find.
I mean, who else but Katie Porter. If we’re speaking on filling this role with the archetype Marianne represents, Katie Porter might be that times ten. The same firebrand of passionate worker-first progressive, but with real political chops to match. Having won an election in California and served in the House of Representative before losing a tight senate election, thanks to some shady moves by Adam Schiff, she is now without a position is government but the knowledge to fill any role.
Which almost makes it too perfect for her to now step in this race and take the mantle as the DNC chair. And admittedly, I would be torn on who I would support if both her and Marianne were in the race. However Katie has not publicly signaled any intentions of stepping in so for now my support is solely behind Marianne.
Stacy Abrams is another solid choice in my opinion. Another experienced legislator, serving two terms in the Georgia House of Representatives before becoming the first African American female gubernatorial nominee in America. Though, almost now infamously, she then lost a close and contested race in which voter suppression potentially played a factor.
Which led Stacy to start her organization, Fair Fight Action, that has seen amazing results turning out voters and has been credited with helping Joe Biden win Georgia in 2020. She has mostly great politics, and is a strong communicator of those as well. Matched with being a household name, she could be a strong candidate if she chose to throw her name in the hat.
What Can’t Happen.
To end I want to summarize what Democrats absolutely need to avoid as I do think if they heed past mistakes, a big ask for Democrats I know, there is little they can do to mess up. And that statement alone kind of embodies what can’t happen. Don’t repeat the past.
We don’t need another Democrat who is going to support the old guard of whoever the establishment anoints is our guy and we won’t tolerate breaking from that. Refusing to allow a primary can’t happen again, I think we need to get out in front of being the party who stops giving the incumbent that advantage. As people become more aware, the anti-democratic nature of primaries becomes more exposed.
We can’t have another wall street Democrat, we’re done with candidates who are close to Republicans on economics but better on social issues. Democrats are supposed to represent the opposition to corporate interests in politics, so maybe returning to that is smart as we’re not going to out-corporate Republicans.
And the last piece is not someone who has the fundamental misunderstanding of new media, to where there is a vital failure to take advantage of it like we saw this cycle. Not only did Democrats fail to show up on opposition media in these new spaces on YouTube or X. They also failed to prop up their own voices as well, which would’ve began to build an apparatus on this side that can parallel that of the right.
Where the right can lean on the Daily Wires, Tim Pools, Joe Rogans and Dave Rubins to all fall in line. We don’t have anyone that size on the left and it didn’t seem the Democrats were interesting in creating it either. Which will always leave the party at a disadvantage when this is now how most people digest news and media.
All in all this is a very consequential pick for the direction of the Democratic party, and its one that I hope they can correctly make. That being said, most of the choices currently running would be fine. Katie Porter or Marianne Williamson would be remarkable.
Well said. I support and believe Marianne would be the one best
THIS WAS AWESOME! Thank you so much for revealing the characters at play. I fully support Marianne. And my second pick would be Stacey Abrams. I love both of them.