Marianne Williamson Endorses A Second Hoyer Challenger

By Josh Kurtz, Maryland Matters

January 14, 2021

Marianne Williamson, the New Age author and erstwhile presidential contender, has endorsed Greenbelt Mayor Colin Byrd in his effort to oust U.S. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) in next year’s Democratic primary.

“Time for a whole new kind of leadership,” Williamson tweeted earlier this week. “I support @MayorByrd for Congress against Steny Hoyer. He’s the youngest Black mayor in America and a longtime champion against white supremacy who supports reparations, paying college athletes & a Green New Deal.”

This is not Williamson’s first endorsement of a Hoyer foe. Last year, she backed Mckayla Wilkes, Hoyer’s principal Democratic primary opponent. Williamson also endorsed the unsuccessful congressional bid of state Sen. Jill P. Carter (D-Baltimore City) in the 7th District (earlier, Carter had endorsed Williamson for president).

In a statement, Byrd said he was “humble and grateful” for Williamson’s support.

“I’m especially grateful to her because she helped bring the importance of reparations to the national stage and is a champion of environmental justice who spoke bold truths about the Flint water crisis,” he wrote.

This week, while Hoyer has been a major player during the latest House impeachment of President Trump, Byrd has been busy on social media, seeking to draw distinctions. He noted that while Hoyer was on the House floor approvingly quoting U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, one of 10 Republicans who voted Wednesday to impeach Trump, Hoyer had voted almost two decades ago to support the Iraq War, which Cheney’s father, former vice president Dick Cheney, helped manufacture and promote.

“As Mayor, I’m not afraid of my progressive roots,” Byrd tweeted. “I’m about Good Trouble. This is Good Trouble vs Good ol’ Boy Politics.”

jkurtz@marylandmatters.org

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