'Marianne is a Grifter' Claims Former National Field Director for Marianne Williamson 2024
Former staffer claims the candidate calls ballot access "mythical stuff"
Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has been accused of being a "grifting fraud" by her former National Field Director, Jeremy Ellwood. The shocking claims include that her "campaign is not a campaign" and that the candidate considers ballot access to be "mythical stuff," while her real goal may be to promote her book coming out in September.
Ellwood, who posted his claims on Facebook and has extensive experience working on national campaigns, says he was recently fired from Marianne 2024 after he brought up in a staff call that the campaign still didn't have ballot access in any state. He found out on that day that Williamson has a book coming out in September.
"Myself (National Field Director) and my partner (Field Strategist) were let go after we toiled to make a solid national field plan and had to pivot to Political Director roles to fill gaps so we could finish the field plan. We weren't allowed to complete our roles because of 'mythical stuff,'" Ellwood says.
Marianne Williamson's press office did not respond to a request for comment.
This is not the first shakeup the Williamson campaign has seen since its inception. The candidate is on her fourth campaign manager in just five months, following the resignations of longtime activist and political operative Peter Daou and former House candidate Roza Calderon. Carlos Cardona, formerly Williamson's New Hampshire state director, is her current campaign manager.
Since hiring Cardona, who does not have national field experience, six staffers have either resigned or been fired from the campaign. Politico reports that Williamson felt "ambushed" by her team after they brought up their concerns about ballot access.
This was the apparent boiling point for Ellwood, who states, "Marianne has fired those who know how to make a campaign win and has kept (and promoted) those who are only event and social media aware (Book tour). Again, she has no ballot access and doesn't care...she fires everyone who has any semblance of field."
Ellwood continues, "Marianne is a grifter. Do not support her. She is here to sell her book coming out in September and that is all she is here for...I was duped. I thought I was more aware than that."
Jeremy Ellwood, Peter Daou, and Roza Calderon have yet to respond to requests for comment.
*** This is a developing story and will be updated.
*** Edited 7/11/23 3:03 PST, 9:43 pm to correct that Williamson is on her fourth campaign manager, not her third, and for clarity.
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Jenn
This is so depressing. I will look forward to reading more of your reporting Jenn.
Thanks Jenn for this. I aways thought she meant well, though quite naive. Interested in her response as I'm sure she's going to be pressed on this. We'll see...