Home About Chat Users Issues Party Candidates Polling Firms Media News Polls Calendar Key Races United States President Senate House Governors International

New User Account
"A historical political resource." 
Email: Password:

  Sanders, Bernie
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationIndependent  
<-  2015-01-01  
 
NameBernie Sanders
Address221 Van Patten Parkway
Burlington, Vermont 05408, United States
Emailbernie@bernie.org
Website [Link]
DonateDonate
Born September 08, 1941 (76 years)
ContributorClassical Liberal
Last ModifedRBH
Oct 06, 2017 08:57pm
Tags Caucasian - Jewish - Polish - Socialist - Anti Alaska/Offshore Oil Drilling - Anti School Vouchers - Anti-Bush Tax Cuts (Pro-Tax Cut Rollback) - Anti-Death Penalty - Anti-Missile Defense - Anti-Social Security Privatization - Health Care Reform - Pro Environment - Pro-Affirmative Action - Pro-Choice - Pro-Gun control - Pro-Labor - Married - Judaism - Straight -
InfoBernard ("Bernie") Sanders has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1991, representing the state of Vermont as an Independent Socialist. He is currently running for the Senate, in the seat vacated by James Jeffords. He is the only independent member of the House, and is one of very few self-described socialists elected to federal office in the United States in recent times.

The son of a Polish immigrant, Sanders was born in New York and educated at Brooklyn College and the University of Chicago. He settled in Vermont in 1964. He was a member of the anti-Vietnam War Liberty Union Party, and in the 1970s was a candidate for state-wide office four times.

In 1981 Sanders ran for Mayor of Burlington, the largest city in Vermont. He defeated the six-term Democratic incumbent by 12 votes. Increasingly popular because of his successful revitalization of the downtown area, he won three more terms as Mayor of Burlington, defeating Democratic and Republican candidates.

Sanders lost his bid for the office of Governor of Vermont in 1986 and a race to become Vermont's member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988. But in 1990 he ran again for the House, this time successfully.

Sanders has held his seat for six successive terms, defeating both Democratic and Republican candidates, and becoming the longest-serving independent member of the House. In 1992 he took 57.8% of the vote to his Republican and Democratic opponents' respective 30.9% and 7.9% of the vote. In 1994, the year of a resounding mid-term Republican victory, he took 49.9% to his Republican opponent's 46.6%. In 1996 he took 55.2% to his Republican and Democratic opponents' respective 32.6% and 9.3%. In 1998, he trounced his Republican opponent 63.4% to 32.9%. In 2000, he took 69.2% to his Republican and Democratic opponents' respective 18.3% and 5.3%. In 2002, he took 64.3% to his Republican opponent's 32.3%. Most recently, in 2004, Sanders took 68.8% to his Republican opponent's 24.6% and Democratic opponent's 7.3%.

The House Republican leadership has chosen to treat Sanders as a de facto member of the Democratic delegation. Although relations between Sanders and House Democratic leadership have not always been smooth, Howard Dean in a May 2005 interview indicated that he considered Sanders an ally who voted with House Democrats. Sanders endorsed President Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 and Al Gore in 2000. Sanders is a member, along with many of his left-leaning Democratic colleagues, of the House Progressive Caucus, which he co-founded and chaired for its first eight years.

Sanders opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and voted against the resolution authorizing the use of force in the fall of 2002. He later joined almost all of his colleagues in voting for a non-binding resolution expressing support for U.S. troops at the outset of the invasion, although he gave a floor speech criticizing the partisan nature of the resolution and blasting the Bush administration's actions in the run-up to the war.

On the domestic front, Sanders supports universal health care and opposes foreign trade agreements which, he says, deprive American workers of their jobs while exploiting foreign workers in sweat-shop factories. An amendment he offered in 2005 to limit provisions giving the government power to obtain individuals' library and book-buying records passed the House by a signficant bi-partisan majority, giving President Bush a rare and major legislative defeat and marking the first rejection of any section of the USA PATRIOT Act. His lifetime legislative score from the AFL-CIO is 100%. In contrast, as of 2004, he has a grade of "F" from the National Rifle Association.

With the retirement of Independent Senator Jim Jeffords, Sanders has announced his intention to seek Jefford's U.S. Senate seat in the 2006 election cycle. Howard Dean, DNC chairperson has indicated that he will not put a candidate up against Sanders, paving the way for an easier victory against any Republican opposition. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and Senators Hillary Clinton (NY) and Charles Schumer (NY) have also announced their support for Sanders.

According to the leftist magazine In These Times, "Judging from his popularity, Sanders' election is all but assured. If he takes office, he will become the Senate's most progressive member."


JOB APPROVAL POLLS
DateFirmApproveDisapproveDon't Know
01/01/2017-03/31/2017 Morning Consult 75.00% ( 0.0) 21.00% ( 0.0) 4.00% ( 0.0)
07/28/2011-07/31/2011 Public Policy Polling (D) 67.00% ( 0.0) 28.00% ( 0.0) 5.00% ( 0.0)
04/28/2004-04/30/2004 Research 2000 58.00% ( 0.0) 21.00% ( 0.0) 21.00% ( 0.0)
FAVORABILITY POLLS
DateFirmFavorableUnfavorableDon't Know
03/17/2016-03/24/2016 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (D) 45.00% ( 0.0) 40.00% ( 0.0) 15.00% ( 0.0)

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor
The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class  Purchase Craverguy 
Outsider in the House  Purchase Craverguy 

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Aug 18, 2016 05:30am Perspective How Bernie Sanders Avoided Disclosing His Personal Finances  Article RP 
Jun 24, 2016 08:40am Statement Bernie Sanders: I'll probably vote for Clinton  Article RP 
May 18, 2016 06:25pm Humor If Sanders supporters complained about other things the way they complain about election results  Article RP 
Apr 27, 2016 03:45pm General Sanders To Cut 'Hundreds' Of Campaign Jobs And Focus On Winning California  Article RP 
Apr 05, 2016 01:20pm Interview This New York Daily News interview was pretty close to a disaster for Bernie Sanders  Article RP 
Jan 22, 2016 11:00am Analysis Here's what the tax code would look like if Bernie Sanders got everything he wanted  Article RP 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 9.00000 Average

FAMILY
Wife Jane O'Meara Sanders 00, 1988-
Father Eli Sanders 1904-1962
Brother Larry Sanders 1934-

INFORMATION LINKS
Senator Bernie Sanders Unfiltered  Discuss
RACES
  02/09/2020 US President - D Primaries ???
  11/06/2018 VT US Senate ???
  01/03/2017 Budget Committee Chairman Lost 47.62% (-4.76%)
  12/27/2016 Most Admired Man Lost 2.00% (-20.00%)
  12/19/2016 US President - Electoral Vote Lost 0.19% (-56.32%)
  11/08/2016 US President - Popular Vote Lost 0.07% (-48.11%)
  11/08/2016 VT Governor Lost 0.02% (-52.89%)
  11/08/2016 VT Lt. Governor Lost 0.01% (-52.08%)
  11/08/2016 VT Attorney General Lost 0.01% (-66.56%)
  11/08/2016 VT Treasurer Lost 0.01% (-82.30%)
  11/08/2016 VT US Senate Lost 0.03% (-61.23%)
  11/08/2016 VT At-Large Lost 0.02% (-89.51%)
  11/08/2016 VT Auditor Lost 0.01% (-55.40%)
  11/08/2016 VT Secretary of State Lost 0.01% (-89.37%)
  07/26/2016 US President - D Convention Lost 39.16% (-20.52%)
  05/24/2016 WA US President - D Primary Lost 47.62% (-4.75%)
  05/17/2016 OR US President - IndOR Primary Lost 29.73% (-3.57%)
  05/10/2016 NE US President - D Primary Lost 46.92% (-6.15%)
  02/09/2016 US President - D Primaries Lost 43.12% (-12.10%)
  01/03/2015 Budget Chairman Lost 45.45% (-9.09%)
  01/03/2013 Veterans' Affairs Chairperson Won 57.14% (+14.29%)
  11/06/2012 Energy Committee Seat 4 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/06/2012 Environment Committee Seat 5 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/06/2012 VT US Senate Won 71.03% (+46.13%)
  11/06/2012 Budget Committee Seat 4 Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/07/2006 VT US Senate Won 65.41% (+33.04%)
  09/12/2006 VT US Senate - D Primary Won 94.15% (+92.62%)
  11/02/2004 VT At-Large Won 67.37% (+42.90%)
  09/14/2004 VT At Large - PRG Primary Won 47.23% (+11.54%)
  09/14/2004 VT At-Large - D Primary Lost 10.88% (-75.26%)
  11/05/2002 VT At-Large Won 64.26% (+31.96%)
  09/10/2002 VT At-Large - D Primary Won 65.15% (+30.29%)
  11/07/2000 VT At-Large Won 69.21% (+50.87%)
  09/12/2000 VT At-Large - R Primary Lost 1.74% (-90.74%)
  09/12/2000 VT At-Large - D Primary Lost 5.92% (-85.02%)
  11/03/1998 VT At-Large Won 63.40% (+30.52%)
  09/08/1998 VT At-Large - D Primary Won 47.88% (+32.78%)
  11/05/1996 VT At-Large Won 55.23% (+22.64%)
  09/08/1996 VT At-Large - D Primary Lost 29.52% (-38.42%)
  11/08/1994 VT At-Large Won 49.89% (+3.30%)
  09/06/1994 VT At-Large - D Primary Won 42.45% (+11.00%)
  11/03/1992 VT At-Large Won 57.78% (+26.92%)
  11/06/1990 VT At-Large Won 56.00% (+16.48%)
  09/11/1990 VT At-Large - D Primary Lost 13.84% (-27.43%)
  11/08/1988 VT At-Large Lost 37.50% (-3.71%)
  03/03/1987 Burlington, VT Mayor Won 55.89% (+11.77%)
  11/04/1986 VT Governor Lost 14.45% (-32.57%)
  03/05/1985 Burlington, VT Mayor Won 56.09% (+24.20%)
  03/01/1983 Burlington, VT Mayor Won 52.12% (+21.44%)
  03/03/1981 Burlington, VT Mayor Won 43.43% (+0.11%)
  11/02/1976 VT Governor Lost 6.09% (-47.30%)
  11/05/1974 VT US Senate Lost 4.13% (-45.34%)
  11/07/1972 VT Governor Lost 1.15% (-54.09%)
  01/07/1972 VT US Senate Special Lost 2.20% (-62.15%)
SPECULATIVE, DID NOT RUN
  01/03/2015 Veterans' Affairs Chairman Lost 0.00% (-53.33%)
  11/04/2014 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Chairperson Lost 0.00% (-54.55%)
ENDORSEMENTS
MD Governor - D Primary - Apr 24, 2018 D Ben Jealous
Atlanta Mayor - Nov 07, 2017 D Vincent Fort
US Ambassador to the Holy See - Oct 16, 2017 NPA Reject
VA Governor - D Primary - Jun 13, 2017 D Tom Perriello
US Trade Representative - May 11, 2017 NPA Reject
US Secretary of Agriculture - Apr 24, 2017 NPA Reject
US Director of National Intelligence - Mar 15, 2017 NPA Reject
US Secretary of Commerce - Feb 27, 2017 NPA Reject
DNC Party Chair - Feb 25, 2017 D Keith M. Ellison
US Secretary of Transportation - Jan 31, 2017 NPA Reject
US Ambassador to the United Nations - Jan 24, 2017 NPA Reject
Berkeley Mayor - Nov 08, 2016 D Jesse Arreguin
UK Parliament - Witney - By-election - Oct 20, 2016 GPEW Larry Sanders
FL District 23 - D Primary - Aug 30, 2016 D Tim Canova
WA District 07 - Blanket Primary - Aug 02, 2016 D Pramila Jayapal
NY District 19 - D Primary - Jun 28, 2016 D Zephyr Teachout
NV District 04 - D Primary - Jun 14, 2016 D Lucy Flores
US Attorney General - Apr 23, 2015 D Loretta Lynch
Chicago Mayor - Runoff - Apr 07, 2015 D Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia
US Secretary of Commerce - Jun 25, 2013 NPA Reject
C.I.A. Director - Mar 07, 2013 NPA Reject
US Secretary of the Treasury - Feb 27, 2013 NPA Reject
US Senate Control - Nov 06, 2012 D Democratic Party Control
US Senate Majority Leader - Nov 06, 2012 D Harry Reid
US Senate Control - Nov 02, 2010 D Democratic Party Control
VT Auditor - D Primary - Aug 24, 2010 D Doug Hoffer
Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board - Jan 28, 2010 NPA Reject
Supreme Court - Associate Justice - Aug 06, 2009 I Sonia Sotomayor
US Secretary of Health and Human Services - Apr 28, 2009 D Howard Dean
U.S. Trade Representative - Mar 18, 2009 NPA Reject
US Attorney General - Feb 02, 2009 D Eric Holder
US Secretary of the Treasury - Jan 26, 2009 NPA Reject
OMB Director - Sep 04, 2007 NPA Reject
US Senate Control - Nov 07, 2006 D Democratic Party Control
VT - At-Large - Nov 07, 2006 D Peter Welch
NY District 11 - D Primary - Sep 12, 2006 D Chris Owens
VT Lt. Governor D Primary - Sep 14, 2004 D Cheryl Rivers
VT - Governor - Nov 05, 2002 D Doug Racine
US President - Dec 18, 2000 D Al Gore
VT Governor - Nov 07, 2000 PRG Anthony Pollina
US President - Dec 16, 1996 D Bill Clinton
VT US President - D Primary - Mar 01, 1988 D Jesse L. Jackson
VT US President - Nov 06, 1984 DFL Walter F. "Fritz" Mondale
VT US President - Nov 04, 1980 SWP Clifton DeBerry
FEC COMMITTEES
C00577130 BERNIE 2016 $ 27119722.00