Bernard Sanders (born September 8, 1941) is an American politician who
has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2007
and as U.S. Representative for the state's at-large congressional
district from 1991 to 2007. He is the longest-serving independent in
U.S. congressional history, although he has a close relationship with
the Democratic Party, having caucused with House and Senate Democrats
for most of his congressional career. Sanders unsuccessfully sought
the Democratic Party nomination for president of the United States in
2016 and 2020, finishing in second place in both campaigns.An advocate
of social democratic and progressive policies, Sanders is known for
his opposition to economic inequality and neoliberalism. On domestic
policy, he supports labor rights, universal and single-payer
healthcare, paid parental leave, tuition-free tertiary education, and
an ambitious Green New Deal to create jobs addressing climate change.
On foreign policy, he supports reducing military spending, pursuing
more diplomacy and international cooperation, and putting greater
emphasis on labor rights and environmental concerns when negotiating
international trade agreements. Sanders describes himself as a
democratic socialist, supports workplace democracy, and has praised
elements of the Nordic model. Some commentators have described his
politics as aligned with the New Deal policies of President Franklin
D. Roosevelt and left-wing populism. Sanders has been credited with
influencing a leftward shift in the Democratic Party since his 2016
presidential campaign.
has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2007
and as U.S. Representative for the state's at-large congressional
district from 1991 to 2007. He is the longest-serving independent in
U.S. congressional history, although he has a close relationship with
the Democratic Party, having caucused with House and Senate Democrats
for most of his congressional career. Sanders unsuccessfully sought
the Democratic Party nomination for president of the United States in
2016 and 2020, finishing in second place in both campaigns.An advocate
of social democratic and progressive policies, Sanders is known for
his opposition to economic inequality and neoliberalism. On domestic
policy, he supports labor rights, universal and single-payer
healthcare, paid parental leave, tuition-free tertiary education, and
an ambitious Green New Deal to create jobs addressing climate change.
On foreign policy, he supports reducing military spending, pursuing
more diplomacy and international cooperation, and putting greater
emphasis on labor rights and environmental concerns when negotiating
international trade agreements. Sanders describes himself as a
democratic socialist, supports workplace democracy, and has praised
elements of the Nordic model. Some commentators have described his
politics as aligned with the New Deal policies of President Franklin
D. Roosevelt and left-wing populism. Sanders has been credited with
influencing a leftward shift in the Democratic Party since his 2016
presidential campaign.
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