Democrat Marianne Williamson exits 2020 presidential race

Motivational speaker, self-help author and 2020 presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson announced Friday in a letter to her supporters that she’s suspending her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Williamson, 67, launched her campaign in January 2019 on a platform of love and peace, but she struggled to gain traction in a field swamped with more traditional presidential candidates.

"I stayed in the race to take advantage of every possible effort to share our message," Williamson said. "With caucuses and primaries now about to begin, however, we will not be able to garner enough votes in the election to elevate our conversation any more than it is now."

Williamson acknowledged last week that she'd laid off her campaign staff nationwide due to accumulating campaign debt, however, she said in a statement that she had no plans to suspend her campaign. On Friday, she said she decided to step back partially in hopes of paving the way for a progressive candidate to win the Democratic nomination.

"Things are changing swiftly and dramatically in this country, and I have faith that something is awakening among us," Williamson wrote. "A politics of conscience is still yet possible. And yes… love will prevail."

Williamson is the second Democratic presidential hopeful to end a bid for the White House in 2020. Last week, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro announced his exit from the race. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-California, former U.S. congressman Joe Sestak and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock suspended their campaigns in December.

Thirteen candidates remain in the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

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