Who is Bernie Sanders?
Bernie Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1941 and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1964 before moving to Vermont. He was elected mayor of Burlington in 1981 by 10 votes and served four terms. He represented Vermont in the US House from 1991 to 2007 and has served in the Senate since 2007, where he is in his fourth term after winning re-election in 2024. He describes himself as a democratic socialist and is the longest-serving independent member of Congress. He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020. In 2025 and 2026 he held a national Fighting Oligarchy tour, including events with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and endorsed 2026 midterm candidates such as Graham Platner in Maine and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan.
Previously: Ranking Member, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (since January 2025) · Candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination (2016, 2020) · US Representative for Vermont's at-large district (1991-2007) · Mayor of Burlington, Vermont (1981-1989)
Documented positions
- Reintroduced the Medicare for All Act in April 2025, which would cover all Americans, including dental, vision and hearing care, without premiums, copayments or deductibles.Source: wcax.com
- Introduced the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 with Representative Bobby Scott in April 2025 to lift the federal minimum wage to $17 an hour by 2030 and phase out subminimum wages.Source: help.senate.gov
- Led the Fighting Oligarchy tour, arguing that billionaires and large corporations hold too much political power and pledging to oppose cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and veterans' care.Source: kpbs.org
- Forced Senate votes in July 2025 on resolutions to block sales of bombs and assault rifles to Israel, which failed but drew support from 27 Democrats.Source: wcax.com
- Opposed the USMCA trade agreement in a January 2020 Senate floor statement and voted against it.Source: sanders.senate.gov
- Introduced the Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act in March 2026 to pause new AI data center construction until national safeguards for workers and communities are in place.Source: wcax.com
- Co-sponsored the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025, introduced in June 2025, which would protect abortion access from state restrictions.Source: govinfo.gov
Record
In the House and Senate, Sanders has sponsored legislation on health care, wages, veterans' benefits and campaign finance, and he now serves as the top Democrat on the Senate committee covering health, education and labor. Supporters cite his consistent positions over four decades and his influence in moving the Democratic Party toward proposals such as a higher minimum wage and expanded public health coverage.
Critics, including some Democrats, argue that single-payer health care and his spending proposals would be too costly, and that his label as a democratic socialist is a liability for the party in competitive races. His resolutions on arms sales to Israel have not passed; his supporters point to growing Democratic support for them, while opponents argue they would weaken an ally.
In their words
“We will not allow you to move this country into an oligarchy,”
