Bernie Sanders has said the success of economically populist candidates in the US midterm elections shows Democrats can win over voters across the political divide by focusing on inequality, corporate power and the concerns of working families.
The 85-year-old senator, who addressed more than 20 rallies in October, argued that candidates promoting his long-standing message had succeeded in states and districts once considered beyond the Democrats’ reach, including Texas, Ohio, Montana, Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin.
“If you’re asking me, am I shocked by that? That the argument about economic justice and taking on oligarchs and fighting for the working class is working in Texas, is working in Ohio, is working in Montana, is working in Florida, is working all over the country — no, I am not shocked,” Mr Sanders said.
His economic populism was central to his unsuccessful 2016 presidential primary campaign against Hillary Clinton, when parts of the Democratic establishment viewed his platform as impractical. His emphasis on class and inequality also drew criticism from within the party over what opponents saw as an inadequate focus on identity politics.
But candidates associated with his approach made gains in this week’s elections. They included Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, James Talarico in Texas, Sam Forstag in Montana and Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin.
“Bernie normalized the kind of campaigning that really is about making a direct appeal to working people,” Mr El-Sayed said. “Wherever I went in Michigan, there are people who remember Bernie 2016 and Bernie 2020 — we stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Economic message takes centre stage
Mr Sanders said Democrats should challenge discrimination while also making the economic needs of ordinary families their central concern. He warned the party not to allow wealthy donors to dictate its priorities.
“It’s not either or. You can fight against bigotry and discrimination, but you have got to have the courage,” he said. “The courage now to say to the billionaires who are funding the Democratic Party: ‘Thank you very much for your help, but right now we are going to focus on the needs of the working families of this country, whether you like it or not.’”
Morris Katz, a progressive strategist whose firm worked with several successful candidates, said attacks centred on transgender issues had failed against Mr Talarico and Gina Hinojosa in Texas because the candidates had set out a clear economic programme.
“Hundreds of millions were spent against James and Gina trying to tag them on a trans issue,” Mr Katz said. “It failed in epic fashion because there was no room for misunderstanding or ambiguity over what they stood for, because they had grounded themselves in such affirmative and positive economic messaging.”
He said negative campaigning was more effective when candidates failed to define themselves, adding: “Once you’re able to define yourself and provide a message, it’s just a lot harder for that to work.”
Mr Katz also pointed to New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, a former Sanders-endorsed local official, as evidence of the reach of the movement. He said the results showed a Democratic coalition united against “oligarchy” and corruption, and committed to structural change.
“The more moderate wing of the party has changed the definition of what a moderate is. I think that’s great,” he said. “We should be a big tent party, but you are seeing a big tent that is unified in opposition to the oligarchy, that is unified in opposition to corruption, and that is united in a pursuit of fundamental and structural change.”
Sanders looks towards 2028
Mr Sanders launched his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour after Donald Trump’s return to power in 2024, at a time when many Democrats were inactive. During the midterm cycle he held 58 rallies, endorsed more than 150 candidates and spent more than 16 million dollars on organising, according to an adviser.
He said the campaign had helped bring forward candidates from rural and urban areas, including Black, white and Latino politicians, as well as people elected to school boards and city councils.
“What keeps me going is you look at the people who we have just elected yesterday, and look at the hundreds of other people who we have elected in school board and city council,” he said. “You have wonderful people, black and white and Latino, coming from rural areas, urban areas.”
Looking towards the 2028 presidential election, Mr Sanders said Democrats could win support from Republicans and independents struggling with the economy if the party concentrated on issues affecting their daily lives.
“I think we’ve got to rethink politics,” he said. “We can win over millions of Republicans and independents who are struggling economically if we focus on the issues that are important.”
Mr Katz said the election had demonstrated voters’ appetite for candidates outside the traditional political class, including teachers, waitresses, firefighters, iron workers, pastors and doctors.
He also suggested that New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should consider a presidential run, arguing that her campaigning for candidates in California, Michigan, Montana and Pennsylvania showed she could appeal nationally.
For Mr Sanders, the election represented confirmation of an argument he has made for years: that Democrats should prioritise living standards and campaign finance reform while challenging the growing wealth of the richest Americans.
“Focusing on the needs of the vast majority of American people who are struggling in the richest country on earth, while the very rich are getting richer, man, you don’t need a Ph.D. in economics or political science to figure that out,” he said.
