Bernie's 'Fighting Oligarchy' Tour Is Organizing, Too

[Nanjeanne]

https://prospect.org/politics/2025-03-26-bernies-fighting-oligarchy-tour-organizing/]

Capitalizing on a surge of Democratic energy, the Sanders team is hiring full-time organizers and pushing supporters toward critical local issues.

Sanders isn’t just growing his already substantial list of grassroots supporters, Shakir said. His team, which is also led by senior adviser Jeremy Slevin, a former top aide to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), has begun hiring full-time organizers to sustain this work in places like Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and several Western states.

In Wisconsin, Shakir and Slevin told me, these organizers are helping with get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of state supreme court candidate Susan Crawford, who is in a high-stakes and high-money race that has drawn the attention of Elon Musk. The organizing for Crawford, who is running against former Republican state attorney general Brad Schimel, is adding a labor focus to the pitch for her election.

The Sanders team is also looking at engaging newly energized Sanders supporters in other state-level policy fights, like a bill in Colorado that would make it easier to form a union. But their main interest is in targeting potentially vulnerable House Republicans. Eight of the ten cities that Sanders has stormed through in recent weeks are home to “purple” districts held by Trump backers. So, one thing the campaign wants to drive people toward is local town halls (real ones, or the “empty chair” variety) that put more heat on those incumbents, in preparation for their re-election battles next year.

Great way to take the energy and turn it into real action. Thank you Bernie.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

1. Thanks-this sentence really spoke to me:

"But their main interest is in targeting potentially vulnerable House Republicans"

[cliffside]

2. knr nt

[1WorldHope]

3. I have a question. If Bernie runs again will the Democrats run against him?

And how will that affect DU. I know it's the Democratic Underground, but Bernie is all things democrat in his philosophy, I would add FDR democrat, will he be supported?

[Nanjeanne]

4. Bernie is 83. He's not running again. He's doing his best to help progressive Dems win.

[brakester]

7. He is 83, but has

the constitution of a man much younger. I supported him when he ran for president and am very impressed with his tour with another tour de force, AOC.

Regardless of whether he runs again, whatever position he holds, he is a powerhouse and extremely productive in his fight for We, the People. His joining up with AOC was genius! Their mutual effect on each other will expand their own future powers.

[Nanjeanne]

9. I will always support him. But he's not going to run in 2028. He will still be my favorite Not President

[brakester]

8. Anything is potluck at this point

considering what can happen in 3-4 years. Look how much pure insanity has been dumped in our laps in 6 weeks!

I love him and AOC. This pairing up will increase her political education and effectiveness. Regardless of whether he decides to run, he is passing the torch to a younger dynamo who can carry on his work.

We owe so much to both of these public servants!!

I send money to Bernie every month and will start doing the same for AOC.

[brakester]

10. Regardless of what happens,

I think it is important to keep Bernie's (and AOC's) name in front of the public eye, so even if he doesn't run, our support of him is important. The Dem party acted very desperately by undercutting Bernie and it adds to my deep ambivalence toward Hillary. On the other hand, people are yelling that she was corrupt and underhanded, yet she was doing just what everyone is urging the Democrats do, which is win at all costs. I think morality is so deeply engrained in our side, I'm not sure we are capable of supporting that kind of candidate. ????

[Martin Eden]

5. Shumer clutches pearls. Bernie siezes opportunity.

The Trusk maladministration has left a lot of rope dangling. We need to make a metaphorical noose out of it and hang these fascists from the tree of liberty.

[AmericaUnderSiege]

6. Some great people to hire would be folks from the early Obama years.

With Obama and Dean, the teamwork was a magnificent display of community organizing. No reason not to explore that formula in a new context.