{"id":48280,"date":"2026-05-16T12:44:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T19:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=48280"},"modified":"2026-05-16T12:44:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T19:44:37","slug":"building-a-movement-for-the-future-bernie-sanders-endorses-61-state-and-local-progressives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/16\/building-a-movement-for-the-future-bernie-sanders-endorses-61-state-and-local-progressives\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Building a Movement for the Future,\u2019 Bernie Sanders Endorses 61 State and Local Progressives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/media-library\/bernie-sanders.jpg?id=66741749&amp;width=1200&amp;height=400&amp;quality=70&amp;coordinates=0%2C2206%2C0%2C1683\" alt=\"Bernie Sanders \"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) brought his Fighting Oligarchy Tour to Mumford High School in Detroit, Michigan on May 3, 2026, appearing with Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0(Photo by Sarah Rice\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cOur political revolution is a multiracial, multigenerational working-class movement built from the ground up,\u201d ready to \u201cfight for the kind of changes our country desperately needs,\u201d the senator said.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/jessica-corbett\">Jessica Corbett<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>May 15, 2026 (CommonDreams.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>US Sen.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/bernie-sanders\">Bernie Sanders<\/a>&nbsp;on Friday announced his endorsement of more than five dozen&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/progressives\">progressives<\/a>&nbsp;running for local and state political offices across the country, from Arizona and Missouri to Georgia and New Jersey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn this pivotal and dangerous moment in our country\u2019s history, we need leaders at every level of government who are prepared to take on the billionaire class and fight for working families. We need bold solutions to the crises we face, not tinkering around the edges,\u201d Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RECOMMENDED&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/trump-irs-lawsuit-slush-fund\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/media-library\/us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-and-president-donald-trump.jpg?id=63523317&amp;width=1200&amp;height=1200&amp;quality=70&amp;coordinates=833%2C0%2C834%2C0\" alt=\"US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and President Donald Trump\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/trump-irs-lawsuit-slush-fund\">\u2018A $1,700,000,000 Fraud\u2019: Trump Set to Drop IRS Suit in Exchange for MAGA Slush Fund<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/cia-iran\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/media-library\/pete-hegseth.jpg?id=66702429&amp;width=1200&amp;height=1200&amp;quality=70&amp;coordinates=322%2C0%2C322%2C0\" alt=\"Pete Hegseth\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/cia-iran\">Leaked CIA Analysis Shows Trump and Hegseth \u2018Lied Through Their Teeth\u2019 About Iran War, Says Murphy<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 84-year-old caucuses with Democrats in the Senate and twice sought the party\u2019s presidential nomination, in 2016 and 2020. During those campaigns and since\u2014particularly with the Fighting&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/oligarchy\">Oligarchy<\/a>&nbsp;Tour he&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/bernie-sanders-oligarchy-2671150482\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">launched<\/a>&nbsp;shortly after Republican President&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/donald-trump\">Donald Trump<\/a>&nbsp;returned to office last year\u2014he has encouraged Americans, especially younger people, to get involved in US politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn the last 15 months, we have recruited over 8,500 Americans to run for office, many of whom are Independents,\u201d the senator noted. \u201cOur political revolution is a multiracial, multigenerational working-class movement built from the ground up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cToday, I am proud to endorse 61 progressives running for state and local office across America,\u201d said Sanders. \u201cThey will fight for the kind of changes our country desperately needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Arizona, Sanders is supporting Bobby Nichols for Tempe City Council, Analise Ortiz for state Senate District 24,<strong><\/strong>&nbsp;Mariana Sandoval for state House District 23, Brian Garcia for state House District 8, and two candidates for state House District 9: Lorena Austin and Jacob Martinez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, he is backing four state Assembly candidates: Jessie Lopez for District 68, Ada Brice\u00f1o for District 67, Fatima Iqbal-Zubair for District 65, and Sandra Celedon for District 31. He\u2019s also endorsing Joz Sida for Fontana mayor, Marissa Roy for Los Angeles city attorney, and multiple people running for LA City Council: Hugo Soto-Martinez for District 13, Faizah Malik for District 11, Estuardo Mazariegos for District 9, and Eunisses Hernandez for District 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Colorado, he is endorsing Chela Garcia Irlando for state Senate District 34, Gabriel Cervantes for state House District 31, and Tyler Quick for Adams County Commission. In Delaware, Sanders is backing Shay Frisby for state Senate District 5, Adriana Leela Bohm for state Senate District 1, and Rae Krantz for state House District 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>X post:  <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BernieSanders\/status\/2055273015517020568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2055273015517020568%7Ctwgr%5E2b03ec6f72507fe4b1fda598d70b0f733fbe1c90%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fbernie-sanders-endorsement\">https:\/\/x.com\/BernieSanders\/status\/2055273015517020568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2055273015517020568%7Ctwgr%5E2b03ec6f72507fe4b1fda598d70b0f733fbe1c90%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fbernie-sanders-endorsement<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Florida, he is supporting Kyandra Darling for state House District 62, and in Georgia, he is backing Ruwa Romman for state Senate District 7. In Iowa, the senator is endorsing India May for state House District 58, Leila Staton for state House District 54, and three Johnson County supervisor candidates: V. Fixmer-Oraiz, Jon Green, and Mandi Remington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sanders is also supporting Scott Houldieson for Indiana Senate District 1, Frank Henderson for Kansas House District 6, Robert LeVertis Bell for Kentucky House District 43, Eboni Taylor for Michigan Senate District 3, Justice Horn for the 1st District in Missouri\u2019s Jackson County Legislature, Tick Segerblom for Nevada\u2019s Clark County Commission, Ali Aljarrah for New Jersey\u2019s Passaic County Commission, and Daisy Maldonado for New Mexico\u2019s Do\u00f1a Ana County Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In New York, where Sanders was notably an early&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/zohran-mamdani-tax-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">supporter<\/a>&nbsp;of democratic socialist NYC Mayor&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a>, he is now endorsing three state Senate candidates\u2014Yuh-Line Niou for District 27, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas for District 13, and, Aber Kawas for District 12\u2014as well as several state Assembly hopefuls: Adam Bojak for District 149, Maurice Brown for District 129, Dan Livingston for District 123, Conrad Blackburn for District 70, Eli Northup for District 69, Illapa Sairitupac for state Assembly District 65, Eon Huntley for District 56, Christian Celeste-Tate for District 54, David Orkin for District 38, Samantha Kattan for District 37, Diana Moreno for District 36, and Shamsul Haque for District 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/pennsylvania\">Pennsylvania<\/a>, the senator is supporting Mark Pinsley for state Senate District 16, Sierra McNeil for state House District 195, and Brad Chambers for State House District 41. He\u2019s also backing David Morales for mayor of Providence, Rhode Island; Julio Salinas for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/texas\">Texas<\/a>&nbsp;House District 41; and Jaelynn Scott for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/washington\">Washington<\/a>&nbsp;House District 37. In&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/west-virginia\">West Virginia<\/a>, he\u2019s endorsing three state House candidates: Olivia Miller for District 80, Cody Cumpston for District 6, and Dave Cantrell for District 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sanders had previously announced his support for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/us-senate\">US Senate<\/a>&nbsp;candidates&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/bernie-sanders-peggy-flanagan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Peggy Flanagan<\/a>&nbsp;in Minnesota, Dr.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/abdul-el-sayed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Abdul El-Sayed<\/a>&nbsp;in Michigan, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/bernie-sanders-maine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Graham Platner<\/a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/maine\">Maine<\/a>, as well as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Endorsements_by_Bernie_Sanders#2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">multiple<\/a>&nbsp;progressives running for the House of Representatives, including Dr.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/sanders-endorses-hamawy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adam Hamawy<\/a>&nbsp;in New Jersey\u2019s 12th Congressional District earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re building a movement for the future,\u201d Sanders&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/15\/us\/politics\/bernie-sanders-endorsements-democrats-candidates.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told<\/a>&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/new-york-times\">New York Times<\/a>, which first reported on his new endorsements Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur effort is to lead a national movement against Trump\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/authoritarianism\">authoritarianism<\/a>\u00a0and kleptocracy and unnecessary wars and his contempt for the Constitution,\u201d he explained. \u201cBut equally important, the American people need an alternative to the Democratic establishment, which is significantly dominated by big-money interests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/jessica-corbett\">Jessica Corbett<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jessica Corbett is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/jessica-corbett\">Full Bio &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) brought his Fighting Oligarchy Tour to Mumford High School in Detroit, Michigan on May 3, 2026, appearing with Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. \u00a0(Photo by Sarah Rice\/Getty Images) \u201cOur political revolution is a multiracial, multigenerational working-class movement built from the ground up,\u201d ready to \u201cfight&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/05\/16\/building-a-movement-for-the-future-bernie-sanders-endorses-61-state-and-local-progressives\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48280"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48280"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48281,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48280\/revisions\/48281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}