Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders

Independent

U.S. Senate Vermont

Tenure

2007 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

17

Predecessor

James Merrill Jeffords

Prior offices

Mayor of Burlington

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U.S. House Vermont At-large District

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Report an officeholder change

Compensation

Base salary

$174,000

Net worth

$460,506

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 6, 2018

Education

High school

James Madison High School, Brooklyn, NY

Bachelor's

University of Chicago

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Official Instagram

Official YouTube

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Bernie Sanders is an independent member of the U.S. Senate from Vermont who caucuses with the Democratic Party.

Sanders announced that he was running for president of the United States for a second time on February 19, 2019. He suspended his presidential campaign on April 8, 2020.

Sanders previously ran for the presidency in 2016, coming in second to Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.

In 2018, Sanders won re-election to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat and as an independent. In his 2006 Senate election and his 2012 re-election, he won the Democratic primary and then declined the nomination ahead of the general election so he could appear on the ballot as an independent.

Sanders was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007.

Sanders regularly endorses candidates in races across the country. For more information about his endorsements, see this page.

Biography

Sanders was born in 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, where he grew up. He earned his B.A. in political science from the University of Chicago in 1964 and went on to lecture at Harvard University and Hamilton College in New York. Sanders has also worked as a carpenter and a journalist.

After spending six months in a kibbutz (a communal settlement) in Israel, Sanders moved to Vermont in 1968. In the 1970s, he ran unsuccessfully for governor of Vermont twice and for U.S. Senate twice as a Liberty Union Party candidate. He was elected mayor of Burlington as an independent in 1981, defeating Democratic incumbent Gordon Paquette by a margin of 10 votes, and he served as mayor until 1989.

During his mayoral tenure, Sanders ran unsuccessful bids for governor and U.S. House as an independent before being elected to the House in 1990, where he served until joining the U.S. Senate in 2007.

Sanders sought the Democratic nomination for president in 2016, which he lost to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He received around 43 percent of the popular vote in the primaries compared to Clinton's 55 percent, and he received support from 39 percent of delegates at the national convention to Clinton's 60 percent.

Though Sanders has held elected office as an independent since 1981 and sought the Democratic nomination for president, he identifies as a democratic socialist.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Sanders' academic, professional, and political career:

• 2007 - Present: U.S. Senator from Vermont
• 1991-2007: Member of the United States House of Representatives
• 1981-1989: Mayor of Burlington, Vermont

Committee assignments

U.S. Senate

2023-2024

Sanders was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

• Senate Committee on Budget, Chairman
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• Energy
• National Parks
• Subcommittee on Water and Power
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
• Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety
• Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Chairman
• Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Ex officio

2021-2022

Sanders was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Subcommittee on Children and Families
• Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Chair
• Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Senate Committee on Budget, Chair
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• Energy
• National Parks
• Water and Power
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
• Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety
• Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight
• Transportation and Infrastructure

2019-2020

Sanders was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

• Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Senate Committee on Budget, Ranking Member
• Committee on Environment and Public Works

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Sanders was assigned to the following committees:

• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

2015-2016

Sanders served on the following committees:

• Budget Committee, Ranking Member
• Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on National Parks
  • Subcommittee on Water & Power
• Environment and Public Works Committee
  • Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
  • Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife
• Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  • Subcommittee on Children and Families
  • Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Ranking Member
• Veterans' Affairs Committee

2013-2014

Sanders served on the following Senate committees:

• Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman
• Budget Committee
• Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  • Subcommittee on Water and Power
  • Subcommittee on National Parks
  • Subcommittee on Energy
• Environment and Public Works Committee
  • Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy
  • Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
• Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  • Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging Chairman
  • Subcommittee on Children and Families
• Joint Economic Committee

2011-2012

Sanders served on the following Senate committees:

• Environment and Public Works Committee
• Energy and Natural Resources Committee
• Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
• Budget Committee
• Veterans' Affairs Committee
• Joint Economic Committee

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023
Vote	Bill and description	Status
Nay	National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024   The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 22, 2023, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2024. The bill required a simple majority vote in the Senate to pass the bill as amended by a Senate and House conference report.	Passed (87-13)
Yea	Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024   The Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (H.R. 6363) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on November 17, 2023, providing for the funding of federal agencies through January 19, 2024. The bill prevented a government shutdown that would have taken place if funding was not approved by November 17, 2023. The bill required a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate.	Passed (87-11)
Yea	Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act   The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 5860) was a bill approved by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on September 30, 2023, providing for the funding of federal agencies through November 17, 2023. The bill prevented a government shutdown that would have taken place if funding was not approved by October 1, 2023. The bill required a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate.	Passed (88-9)
Nay	Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023   The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 3, 2023. The bill raised the federal debt limit until January 2025. The bill also capped non-defense spending in fiscal year 2024, rescinded unspent coronavirus relief funding, rescinded some Internal Revenue Service (IRS) funding, enhanced work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF), simplified environmental reviews for energy projects, and ended the student loan debt repayment pause in August 2023. The bill required a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate. Click here to read more.	Passed (63-36)
Nay	Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.   H.J.Res. 7 (Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on April 10, 2023. The resolution ended the national coronavirus state of emergency, which began on March 13, 2020. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the Senate. Click here to read more.	Passed (68-23)
Nay	Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'".   H.J.Res. 44 (Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'".) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the House of Representatives and voted down by the Senate. The bill sought to nullify a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) rule establishing criteria to determine whether firearms equipped with stabilizing braces that facilitate shoulder fire were subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the Senate.	Failed (50-49)
Nay	Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".   H.J.Res. 30 (Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and vetoed by President Joe Biden (D) on March 20, 2023. This was Biden's first veto of his presidency. The resolution sought to nullify a Department of Labor rule that amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow retirement plans to consider certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment-related decisions. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the Senate. Click here to read more.	Passed (50-46)

Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Key votes (click "show" to expand or "hide" to contract)

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023 The 117th United States Congress began on January 3, 2021 and ended on January 3, 2023. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-213), and the U.S. Senate had a 50-50 makeup. Democrats assumed control of the Senate on January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden (D) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D), who acted as a tie-breaking vote in the chamber, assumed office. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia. Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023 Vote Bill and description Status Yea Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act   The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) was a federal infrastructure bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on November 15, 2021. Among other provisions, the bill provided funding for new infrastructure projects and reauthorizations, Amtrak maintenance and development, bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, and clean energy transmission and power infrastructure upgrades. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Click here to read more. Passed (69-30) Yea American Rescue Plan Act of 2021   The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 11, 2021, to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key features of the bill included funding for a national vaccination program and response, funding to safely reopen schools, distribution of $1,400 per person in relief payments, and extended unemployment benefits. The bill required a 1/2 majority vote in the Senate. Click here to read more. Passed (50-49) Yea Inflation Reduction Act of 2022   The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 16, 2022, to address climate change, healthcare costs, and tax enforcement. Key features of the bill included a $369 billion investment to address energy security and climate change, an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, allowing Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices, a 15% corporate minimum tax, a 1% stock buyback fee, and enhanced Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement, and an estimated $300 billion deficit reduction from 2022-2031. The bill required a 1/2 majority vote in the Senate. Click here to read more. Passed (51-50) Nay National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022   The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (S. 1605) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 27, 2021, authorizing Department of Defense acitivities and programs for fiscal year 2022. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (88-11) Nay James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023   The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2023. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (83-11) Yea Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022   The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (S. 3373) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 10, 2022, that sought to address healthcare access, the presumption of service-connection, and research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (86-11) Nay Chips and Science Act   The Chips and Science Act (H.R. 4346) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 9, 2022, which sought to fund domestic production of semiconductors and authorized various federal science agency programs and activities. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (64-33) Yea Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021   The Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives. The bill proposed prohibiting governmental restrictions on the provision of and access to abortion services and prohibiting governments from issuing some other abortion-related restrictions. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Failed (46-48) Yea Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022   The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 15, 2022, providing for the funding of federal agencies for the remainder of 2022, providing funding for activities related to Ukraine, and modifying or establishing various programs. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (68-31) Yea Respect for Marriage Act   The Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 13, 2022. The bill codified the recognition of marriages between individuals of the same sex and of different races, ethnicities, or national origins, and provided that the law would not impact religious liberty or conscience protections, or provide grounds to compel nonprofit religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Click here to read more. Passed (61-36) Yea Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023   The Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 6833) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on September 30, 2022. It provided for some fiscal year 2023 appropriations, supplemental funds for Ukraine, and extended several other programs and authorities. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (72-25) Yea COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act   The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (S. 937) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on May 20, 2021, that included provisions to designate an officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate expedited review of hate crimes, required the DOJ to issue guidance to law enforcement agencies aimed to establish online hate crime reporting processes and to raise awareness about hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and established state grants to create hate crime reporting hotlines, among other related provisions. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (94-1) Yea Postal Service Reform Act of 2022   The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (H.R. 3076) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on April 6, 2022, that sought to address healthcare and retirement benefits for postal workers, allow USPS to provide certain nonpostal products and services, and expand service performance and budgetary reporting. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Passed (79-19) Yea Bipartisan Safer Communities Act   The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938) was a firearm regulation and mental health bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 25, 2022. Provisions of the bill included expanding background checks for individuals under the age of 21, providing funding for mental health services, preventing individuals who had been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor or felony in dating relationships from purchasing firearms for five years, providing funding for state grants to implement crisis intervention order programs, and providing funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Click here to read more. Passed (65-33) Yea Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act   The Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act (H.R. 5305) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on September 30, 2021, that provided for continuing fiscal year 2022 appropriations to federal agencies through December 3, 2021, in order to prevent a government shutdown that would have otherwise occurred if fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills had not been passed by October 1, 2021. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate. Passed (65-35) Guilty Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.   This was a resolution before the 117th Congress setting forth an article of impeachment saying that Donald Trump (R) incited an insurrection against the government of the United States on January 6, 2021. The House of Representatives approved the article of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of the charges. Conviction on the impeachment charges required a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate. Click here to read more. Not guilty (57-43) Yea Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022   The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022 (H.R. 350) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives and voted down by the Senate in a failed cloture vote that sought to expand the availability and reporting of information about domestic terrorism, enhance the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) ability to prosecute domestic terrorism, among other things. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Failed (47-47) Yea A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through 2031.   This concurrent resolution (S.Con.Res. 14) was a budget resolution passed by the 117th Congress outlining the fiscal year 2022 federal government budget, setting forth budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023-2031, and providing reconciliation instructions for legislation that increased the deficit. It contained a proposed framework for the Build Back Better Act. The resolution required 1/2 majority vote in the Senate. Click here to read more. Passed (50-49) Yea Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act   The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act was a federal elections bill approved by the House of Representatives and voted down by the Senate in a failed cloture vote that sought to, among other provisions, make Election Day a public holiday, allow for same-day voter registration, establish minimum early voting periods, and allow absentee voting for any reason, restrict the removal of local election administrators in federal elections, regulate congressional redistricting, expand campaign finance disclosure rules for some organizations, and amend the Voting Rights Act to require some states to obtain clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice before implementing new election laws. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to invoke cloture and a 1/2 majority vote on passage. Click here to read more. Failed (49-51) Yea Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022   The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act was a bill passed by the 117th Congress in the form of an amendment to a year-end omnibus funding bill that was signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022. The bill changed the procedure for counting electoral votes outlined in the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Elements of the bill included specifying that the vice president's role at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes is ministerial, raising the objection threshold at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes to one-fifth of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, identifying governors as the single official responsible for submitting the certificate of ascertainment identifying that state’s electors, and providing for expedited judicial review of certain claims about states' certificates identifying their electors. The bill required a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate to concur in the House's version of the bill. Click here to read more. Passed (68-29) Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2020 Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018 For detailed information about each vote, click here. Votes on domestic policy (click to expand) Voted Yea on: First Step Act of 2018 (S 756)  Motion Agreed to (87-12) on December 18, 2018 Proposed making changes to the criminal justice system. Voted Yea on: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (HR 2)  Conference Report Agreed to (87-13) on December 11, 2018 Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance through fiscal year 2023. Voted Nay on: "Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States" (PN2259)  Nomination Confirmed (50-48) on October 6, 2018 Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Voted Nay on: "Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States" (PN2259)  Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-49) on October 5, 2018 Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2)  Bill Passed (86-11, 3/5 majority required) on June 28, 2018 Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance. Voted Nay on: Immigration reform proposal from Sen. Chuck Grassley and the Trump administration (S Amdt 1959 to HR 2579)  Cloture Motion Rejected (39-60, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018 Proposed providing a path to citizenship for 1.8 million individuals brought into the U.S. without legal permission as children, $25 billion for border security, limits on chain migration or family-based migration, and eliminating the visa lottery system. Voted Yea on: Immigration reform proposal from the Common Sense Coalition (S Amdt 1958 to HR 2579)  Cloture Motion Rejected (54-45, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018 Proposed providing a path to citizenship for individuals brought into the U.S. without legal permission as children, $25 billion for border security, and limitations on chain or family-based immigration. Voted Nay on: Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act amendment (S Amdt 1948 to S Amdt 1959)  Cloture Motion Rejected (54-45, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018 Proposed withholding funding from sanctuary jurisdictions for not cooperating with federal immigration officials. Voted Yea on: Coons-McCain immigration plan (S Amdt 1955 to S Amdt 1958)  Cloture Motion Rejected (52-47, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018 Proposed providing a path to citizenship for individuals brought into the U.S. without legal permission as children and conducting a study to determine what border security measures were needed. It also proposed requiring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the U.S.-Mexico border by 2021. Voted Nay on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S 2311)  Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected (51-46, 3/5 majority required) on January 29, 2018 Proposed amending the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus was 20 weeks or more. The bill proposed providing exceptions for an abortion: (1) that was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Voted Nay on: An amendment to repeal the requirements for individuals to enroll in health insurance and for employers to offer it—"Skinny bill" (S Amdt 667 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628 the American Health Care Act of 2017)  Amendment Rejected (49-51) on July 28, 2017 The amendment proposed repealing the requirements for individuals to enroll in health insurance and for employers to offer it. Voted Nay on: An amendment to repeal the ACA, including Paul amendment (No. 271) (S Amdt 271 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628)  Amendment Rejected (45-55) on July 26, 2017 An amendment to repeal the ACA, including Paul amendment (No. 271) Voted Nay on: Motion to advance the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, including Cruz and Portman amendments (S Amdt 270 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628)  Motion Rejected (43-57, 3/5 majority required) on July 25, 2017 A procedural vote to advance the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), including the Cruz and Portman amendments. Voted Nay on: Motion to begin debate on the American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)  Motion to Proceed Agreed to (50-50, Vice President voted Yea) on July 25, 2017 Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2017. Voted Nay on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(4)—confirmation vote)  Nomination Confirmed (54-45) on April 7, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—confirmation vote. Voted Nay on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(3))  Cloture Motion Agreed to (55-45) on April 6, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—second vote to end debate and move to a vote on Gorsuch's nomination under the new precedent requiring only a simple majority to pass. Voted Yea on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(2))  Decision of Chair Not Sustained (48-52) on April 6, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—a vote to keep the Senate precedent of requiring 60 votes to close debate on Supreme Court nominations. Voted Nay on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55)  Cloture Motion Rejected (55-45, 3/5 majority required) on April 6, 2017 Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—initial vote to end debate and move to a vote on Gorsuch's nomination. Votes on economic affairs and regulations (click to expand) Voted Nay on: "Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 6157)  Conference Report Agreed to (93-7) on September 18, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education. Voted Yea on: "Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 5895)  Conference Report Agreed to (92-5) on September 12, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs. Voted Nay on: "Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 6157)  Bill Passed (85-7) on August 23, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education. Voted Yea on: "Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 5895)  Bill Passed (86-5) on June 25, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs. Voted Nay on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)  Motion Agreed to (65-32) on March 23, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)  Motion Agreed to (71-28) on February 9, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through March 23, 2018 Voted Nay on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)  Cloture Motion Rejected (55-44, 3/5 majority required) on February 8, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through March 23, 2018. Voted Nay on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 195)  Motion Agreed to (81-18) on January 22, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018. Voted Nay on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 195)  Cloture Motion Agreed to (81-18, 3/5 majority required) on January 22, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018. Voted Nay on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 195)  Cloture Motion Rejected (50-49, 3/5 majority required) on January 19, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018. Voted Nay on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)  Motion Agreed to (66-32, 3/5 majority required) on December 21, 2017 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018. Voted Nay on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)  Motion Agreed to (51-48) on December 20, 2017 Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018 and proposed changes to the tax code. Voted Nay on: "A joint resolution making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes." (HJ Res 123)  Joint Resolution Passed (81-14) on December 7, 2017 Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017. Voted Nay on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)  Bill Passed (51-49) on December 2, 2017 Proposed amending the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses. Voted Nay on: A concurrent resolution establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)  Concurrent Resolution Agreed to (51-49) on October 19, 2017 Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)  Motion Agreed to (80-17) on September 7, 2017 Proposed suspending the debt ceiling and funding the government until December 8, 2017, and providing funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts. Voted Yea on: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)  Motion Agreed to (79-18) on May 4, 2017 The $1.2 trillion budget bill proposed funding the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017. Votes on foreign policy and national security issues (click to expand) Voted Yea on: "A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress." (SJ Res 54)  Joint Resolution Passed (56-41) on December 13, 2018 Proposed removing United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that were not authorized by Congress. Voted Nay on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)  Bill Passed (89-8) on September 18, 2017 Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, and to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. On November 15, 2017, the Senate passed the defense policy bill by voice vote. This bill was the result of compromises made in the conference report. For more information on the compromise bill, click here. Voted Nay on: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)  Bill Passed (98-2) on July 27, 2017 Proposed providing congressional review and proposed countering aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017 (S 722)  Bill Passed (98-2) on June 15, 2017 Proposed providing congressional review and proposed countering aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes. 114th Congress The first session of the 114th Congress enacted into law six out of the 2,616 introduced bills (0.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 1.3 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the first session. In the second session, the 114th Congress enacted 133 out of 3,159 introduced bills (4.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 7.0 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. The Senate confirmed 18,117 out of 21,815 executive nominations received (83 percent). For more information pertaining to Sanders's voting record in the 114th Congress, please see the below sections. Economic and fiscal Trade Act of 2015 See also: The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, 2015 On May 22, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1314, which was used as a legislative vehicle for trade legislation with the titles "Trade Act of 2015" and the "Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015," by a vote of 62-37. The bill proposed giving the president trade promotion authority (TPA). TPA, also known as fast track authority, allows the president to negotiate trade deals that cannot be amended by Congress. Congress casts a simple up or down vote on a trade agreement, and the legislation only requires a simple majority for approval. The bill also included a statement of trade priorities and provisions for trade adjustment assistance. Independent senators Angus King and Bernie Sanders voted against the bill with 31 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Trade promotion authority On June 24, 2015, by a vote of 60-38, the Senate approved trade promotion authority (TPA) as part of HR 2146 - Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act. Sanders was one of two Independents to vote against the bill. After, Senate Republican leadership honored a pledge to support trade adjustment assistance (TAA) by passing the measure as part of HR 1295 - Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 by voice vote. The House passed HR 1295 the following day, on June 25, 2015, and both TPA and TAA were signed into law on June 29, 2015. 2016 Budget proposal On May 5, 2015, the Senate voted to approve SConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 51-48. The non-binding resolution will be used to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government. The vote marked the first time since 2009 that Congress approved a joint budget resolution. Independent senators Angus King and Bernie Sanders joined all 44 Democrats and voted against the resolution. Defense spending authorization On November 10, 2015, the Senate passed S 1356 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 91-3. The second version of the $607 billion national defense bill included "$5 billion in cuts to match what was approved in the budget" and language preventing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Sanders voted with two Democrats against the bill. On November 5, 2015, the House passed the bill by a vote of 370-58, and President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015. On June 18, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1735 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 71-25. The bill "authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation." Sanders voted with 22 Democrats and two Republicans against the bill. The House passed the bill on May 15, 2015. President Barack Obama vetoed the bill on October 22, 2015. 2015 budget On October 30, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 by a vote of 64-35. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017. Sanders voted with one independent, 18 Republicans and 44 Democrats in favor of the bill. It passed the House on October 28, 2015. President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 2, 2015. Foreign affairs Iran nuclear deal See also: Iran nuclear agreement, 2015 On May 7, 2015, the Senate voted to approve HR 1191 - A bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran's nuclear program, and for other purposes, by a vote of 98-1. The bill required President Barack Obama to submit the details of the nuclear deal with Iran for congressional review. Congress had 60 days to review the deal and vote to approve, disapprove or take no action on the deal. During the review period, sanctions on Iran could not be lifted. Sanders voted to approve the bill. Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 On September 10, 2015, the Senate voted to filibuster the measure to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal by a vote of 58-42. Sixty votes were needed to proceed to HJ Res 61 - the Hire More Heroes Act of 2015, the legislative vehicle the Senate was expected to use to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal. Sanders voted with 40 Democrats and one Independent against proceeding to the measure of disapproval. Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 follow up votes On September 15, 2015, the Senate voted for a second time to filibuster the measure to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal by a vote of 56-42. Sixty votes were needed to proceed to HJ Res 61 - the Hire More Heroes Act of 2015, the legislative vehicle the Senate was expected to use to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal. Sanders voted with 40 Democrats and one Independent against proceeding to the measure of disapproval. The legislation was voted on for a third time on September 17, and it failed for a third time by a vote of 56-42. Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 fourth vote On September 17, 2015, the Senate voted to filibuster a vote on S.Amdt.2656 to S.Amdt.2640 by a vote of 53-45. The amendment proposed prohibiting "the President from waiving, suspending, reducing, providing relief from, or otherwise limiting the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran." Sanders voted with 43 Democrats and one Independent against proceeding to the amendment. Domestic USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 On June 2, 2015, the Senate passed HR 2048 - the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 by a vote of 67-32. The legislation revised HR 3199 - the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 by terminating the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Sanders voted with 30 Republicans and one Democrat against the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015. Cyber security On October 27, 2015, the Senate passed S 754 - the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 by a vote of 74-21. The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Sanders voted with six Republicans and 14 Democrats against the bill. Immigration On October 20, 2015, the Senate voted against proceeding to a vote on S 2146 - the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act by a vote of 54-45. The bill proposed withholding federal funding from "sanctuary jurisdictions" that violate the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and other federal immigration laws. In addition, the bill proposed increasing "penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after being removed" and providing "liability protection for State and local law enforcement who cooperate with Federal law enforcement." Sanders voted with one Independent, 42 Democrats and one Republican against proceeding to the bill. 113th Congress The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. The Senate confirmed 13,949 out of 18,323 executive nominations received (76.1 percent). For more information pertaining to Sanders's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections. National security John Brennan CIA nomination Sanders voted against the confirmation of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2013, with a vote of 63 - 34. Most Democrats supported the nomination, while Republicans were somewhat divided with roughly one-third supporting the nomination. Economy No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 Sanders voted for H.R.325 -- No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013. The bill passed the Senate on January 31, 2013, with a vote of 64 - 34. The purpose of the bill was to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling and withhold the pay of members of Congress until a budget could be passed. The vote largely followed party lines with Democrats overwhelmingly supporting it and many Republicans in opposition to the bill. Government shutdown See also: United States budget debate, 2013 During the shutdown in October 2013, the Senate rejected, down party lines, every House-originated bill that stripped the budget of funding for the Affordable Care Act. A deal was reached late on October 16, 2013, just hours before the debt ceiling deadline. The bill to reopen the government, H.R. 2775, lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies. The final vote on H.R. 2775 was 81-18, with all 18 votes against the bill from Republican members. Sanders voted with the Democratic Party for the bill. Immigration Mexico-U.S. border Sanders voted against Senate Amendment 1197 -- Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border. The amendment was rejected by the Senate on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 39 - 54. The purpose of the amendment was to require the completion of 350 miles of fence described in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 before registered provisional immigrant status may be granted. It would also require 700 miles of fence be completed before the status of registered provisional immigrants may be changed to permanent resident status. The vote followed party lines. Social issues Violence Against Women (2013) Sanders voted for S.47 -- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The bill was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2013, with a vote of 78 - 22. The purpose of the bill was to combat violence against women, from domestic violence to international trafficking in persons. All 22 dissenting votes were cast by Republicans. Previous congressional sessions Fiscal Cliff Sanders voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by an 89 - 8 vote on January 1, 2013.

Elections

2020

Presidency

See also: Presidential candidates, 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) won the presidential election on November 3, 2020. Biden received 306 electoral votes and President Donald Trump (R) received 232 electoral votes. In the national popular vote, Biden received 81.2 million votes and Trump received 74.2 million votes.

Sanders announced that he was running for president on February 19, 2019. He suspended his presidential campaign on April 8, 2020.

Ballotpedia compiled the following resources about Sanders and the 2020 presidential election:

• News stories about the 2020 presidential election;
• An overview of key national and state campaign staffers;
• Endorsements from politicians, public figures, and organizations;
• An overview of candidate campaign travel; and
• A list of other presidential candidates who ran for election.

Click here for Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign overview.

2018

See also: United States Senate election in Vermont, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Vermont

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Vermont on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bernie Sanders (Independent)	67.3	183,649
		Lawrence Zupan (R)	27.4	74,663
		Brad Peacock (Independent)	1.4	3,787
		Russell Beste (Independent)	1.0	2,763
		Edward Gilbert Jr. (Independent)	0.8	2,244
		Folasade Adeluola (Independent)	0.7	1,979
		Jon Svitavsky (Independent)	0.5	1,280
		Reid Kane (Liberty Union Party)	0.4	1,171
		Bruce Busa (Independent)	0.3	914
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	294

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 272,744
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• H. Brooke Paige (R)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Vermont

Incumbent Bernie Sanders defeated Folasade Adeluola in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Vermont on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bernie Sanders	94.4	63,322
		Folasade Adeluola	5.6	3,748

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 67,070
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Vermont

H. Brooke Paige defeated Lawrence Zupan, Jasdeep Pannu, and Roque De La Fuente in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Vermont on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		H. Brooke Paige	39.6	9,805
		Lawrence Zupan	37.9	9,383
		Jasdeep Pannu	18.3	4,527
		Roque De La Fuente	4.3	1,057

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 24,772
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Independent primary election

No Independent candidates ran in the primary.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Cris Ericson (Independent)

2016

Presidency

See also: Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016 and Presidential election, 2016

Sanders was a Democratic candidate for the office of President of the United States in 2016. He made his candidacy official on April 30, 2015. He was the second Democratic candidate to formally announce his entry into the race, following Hillary Clinton. On July 12, 2016, Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president but not did formally suspend his campaign.

2012

See also: United States Senate elections in Vermont, 2012

Sanders ran for re-election in the 2012 election for the U.S. Senate, representing Vermont. Sanders ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on August 28, 2012. He also ran as an independent. He defeated John MacGovern (R), Cris Ericson (United States Marijuana Party), Laurel LaFramboise (VoteKISS), Pete Diamondstone (Liberty Union) and Peter Moss (Peace and Prosperity) in the general election on November 6, 2012.

U.S. Senate, Vermont, General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Independent	Bernie Sanders Incumbent	71.1%	207,848
	Republican	John MacGovern	24.9%	72,898
	Third	Cris Ericson	2%	5,924
	Third	Laurel LaFramboise	0.3%	877
	Third	Peter Moss	0.8%	2,452
	Third	Pete Diamondstone	0.9%	2,511
Total Votes				292,510
Source: Vermont Board of Elections, "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Bernie Sanders, click [show] to expand the section.

2006 On November 7, 2006, Bernard Sanders won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Rich Tarrant (R), Cris Ericson (I), Craig Hill (T), Pete Diamondstone (T), Peter Moss (T) and Write-in in the general election. U.S. Senate, Vermont General Election, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders 65.4% 171,638      Republican Rich Tarrant 32.4% 84,924      Independent Cris Ericson 0.7% 1,735      Vermont Green Craig Hill 0.6% 1,536      Liberty Union Pete Diamondstone 0.3% 801      Anti-Bushist Candidate Peter Moss 0.6% 1,518      N/A Write-In 0.1% 267 Total Votes 262,419 2004 On November 7, 2006, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Greg Parke (R), Larry Drown (D), Jane Newton (T) and a write-in in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders incumbent 67.5% 205,774      Republican Greg Parke 24.4% 74,271      Democratic Larry Drown 7.1% 21,684      Liberty Union Jane Newton 1% 3,018      N/A Write-In 0.1% 261 Total Votes 305,008 2002 On November 5, 2002, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated William Meub (R), Jane Newton (T), Fawn Skinner (T) and Daniel Krymkowski (L) in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders incumbent 64.3% 144,880      Republican William Meub 32.3% 72,813      Liberty Union/Progressive Jane Newton 1.4% 3,185      Vermont Grassroots Fawn Skinner 1% 2,344      Libertarian Daniel Krymkowski 0.9% 2,033 Total Votes 225,255 2000 On November 7, 2000, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Karen Ann Kerin (R), Stewart Skrill (I), Pete Diamondstone (T), Jack Rogers (T), Daniel Krymkowski (L) and a write-in in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 2000 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders incumbent 69.2% 196,118      Republican Karen Ann Kerin 18.3% 51,977      Independent Stewart Skrill 4.2% 11,816      Democratic, Liberty Union Pete Diamondstone 5.3% 14,918      Vermont Grassroots Jack Rogers 1.7% 4,799      Libertarian Daniel Krymkowski 1.1% 2,978      N/A Write-In 0.3% 760 Total Votes 283,366 1998 On November 3, 1998, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Mark Candon (R), Robert Maynard (L), Matthew Mulligan (T), Pete Diamondstone (T) and write-in in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1998 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders incumbent 63.4% 136,403      Republican Mark Candon 32.9% 70,740      Libertarian Robert Maynard 1% 2,097      Vermont Grassroots Matthew Mulligan 1.6% 3,464      Liberty Union Pete Diamondstone 1% 2,153      N/A Write-In 0.1% 276 Total Votes 215,133 1996 On November 5, 1996, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Susan Sweetser (R), Jack Long (D), Thomas Morse (L), Pete Diamondstone (T), Robert Melamede (T), Norio Kushi (T) and Write-In in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1996 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders incumbent 55.2% 140,678      Republican Susan Sweetser 32.6% 83,021      Democratic Jack Long 9.4% 23,830      Libertarian Thomas Morse 1.1% 2,692      Liberty Union Pete Diamondstone 0.8% 1,965      Vermont Grassroots Robert Melamede 0.5% 1,350      Natural Law Norio Kushi 0.3% 812      N/A Write-In 0.1% 357 Total Votes 254,705 1994 On November 8, 1994, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated John Carroll (R), Jack Rogers (T), Carole Banus (T), Annette Larson (T) and Write-In in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1994 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders incumbent 49.9% 105,502      Republican John Carroll 46.6% 98,523      Grassroots Jack Rogers 1.3% 2,664      Natural Law Carole Banus 1.4% 2,963      Liberty Union Annette Larson 0.7% 1,493      N/A Write-In 0.1% 304 Total Votes 211,449 1992 On November 3, 1992, Bernard Sanders won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Lewis Young (D), Tom Philbin (R), Pete Diamondstone (T), Douglas Miller (T), John Dewey (T) and Write-In in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1992 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders incumbent 57.8% 162,724      Democratic Lewis Young 7.9% 22,279      Republican Tom Philbin 30.9% 86,901      Liberty Union Pete Diamondstone 1.3% 3,660      Freedom for LaRoche Douglas Miller 0.7% 2,049      Natural Law/New Alliance John Dewey 1.3% 3,549      N/A Write-In 0.2% 464 Total Votes 281,626 1990 On November 6, 1990, Bernard Sanders won election to the United States House. He defeated Delores Sandoval (D), Peter Smith (R), Pete Diamondstone (T) and Write-In in the general election. U.S. House, Vermont At-Large District General Election, 1990 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Independent Bernard Sanders 56% 117,522      Democratic Delores Sandoval 3% 6,315      Republican Peter Smith 39.5% 82,939      Liberty Union Pete Diamondstone 0.9% 1,965      N/A Write-In 0.5% 1,116 Total Votes 209,857

Campaign themes

2018

Campaign website

Sanders' campaign website stated the following:

“	The American people must make a fundamental decision. Do we continue the 40-year decline of our middle class and the growing gap between the very rich and everyone else, or do we fight for a progressive economic agenda that creates jobs, raises wages, protects the environment and provides health care for all? Are we prepared to take on the enormous economic and political power of the billionaire class, or do we continue to slide into economic and political oligarchy? These are the most important questions of our time, and how we answer them will determine the future of our country. Income and Wealth Inequality It’s Time to Make College Tuition Free and Debt Free Getting Big Money Out of Politics and Restoring Democracy Creating Jobs Rebuilding America A Living Wage Combating Climate Change to Save the Planet A Fair and Humane Immigration Policy Racial Justice Fighting for Affordable Housing Fighting for Women’s Rights Working to Create an AIDS and HIV-Free Generation Fighting for LGBT Equality Empowering Tribal Nations Caring for our Veterans Medicare for All Strengthen and Expand Social Security Fighting to Lower Prescription Drug Prices Fighting for Disability Rights Ending the Humanitarian Crisis in Puerto Rico Standing With Guam Preventing a Global Race to the Bottom in the Airline Industry General Electric Must Pay to Restore the Hudson River Constitution Pipeline Must Be Defeated Supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities Ending the Race to the Bottom Fighting for the Rights of Native Hawaiians Improving the Rural Economy Fighting for Nurses Reforming Wall Street Real Family Values War and Peace War Should Be the Last Option: Why I Support the Iran Deal Making the Wealthy, Wall Street, and Large Corporations Pay their Fair Share How Bernie pays for his proposals	”
—Bernie Sanders’ campaign website (2018)

Notable endorsements

See also: Endorsements by Bernie Sanders

The table below shows data on endorsements made by Bernie Sanders. Endorsements include official statements, appearances at campaign rallies, and direct participation in campaign ads and materials. For more information about endorsements in a particular year, click here.

Endorsements by Bernie Sanders, 2018-2024
Election year	Total endorsements	Primary endorsements	Primary success rate	General election endorsements	General election success rate
2024	6	6	33%	0	N/A
2023	4	3	33%	2	100%
2022	32	25	64%	23	87%
2021	23	18	61%	16	75%
2020	204	46	70%	190	69%
2019	2	1	0%	1	100%
2018	38	23	65%	30	53%
Note: This table does not include endorsements made in presidential elections.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Bernie Sanders campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2020	President of the United States	Withdrew convention	$219,024,272	$221,830,045
2018	U.S. Senate Vermont	Won general	$13,141,105	$8,200,325
2012	U.S. Senate (Vermont)	Won	$7,229,492	N/A**
2006	U.S. Senate (Vermont)	Won	$5,554,466	N/A**
2004	U.S. House (Vermont, At-large District)	Won	$836,307	N/A**
Grand total			$245,785,641	$230,030,370
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only availabale data.

Personal Gain Index

See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a four-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of four different metrics:

• Changes in Net Worth
• The Donation Concentration Metric
• The K-Street Metric
• The Stock Oversight and Trades Metric

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Sanders' net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $116,014 to $804,998. That averages to $460,506, which is lower than the average net worth of independent Senate members in 2012 of $8,096,792.50. Sanders ranked as the 84th most wealthy senator in 2012. Between 2004 and 2012, Sanders' calculated net worth increased by an average of 29 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.

Bernie Sanders Yearly Net Worth
Year	Average Net Worth
2004	$140,383
2012	$460,506
Growth from 2004 to 2012:	228%
Average annual growth:	29%
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). In the 113th Congress, Sanders was the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and chair of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging. Sanders received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Retired industry.

From 1989-2014, 13.59 percent of Sanders' career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.

Bernie Sanders Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$19,288,556
Total Spent	$15,481,680
Chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee
Chair of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Retired	$1,083,260
Democratic/Liberal	$438,472
Industrial Unions	$405,882
Public Sector Unions	$386,015
Lawyers/Law Firms	$307,173
% total in top industry	5.62%
% total in top two industries	7.89%
% total in top five industries	13.59%

Analysis

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often.

Sanders most often votes with:

• Maria Cantwell

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Sanders was a "left leaning independent," as of August 20, 2014. This was the same rating Sanders received in July 2013.

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Sanders missed 83 of 2,766 roll call votes from January 2007 to September 2015. This amounts to 3 percent, which is worse than the median of 1.6 percent among current senators as of September 2015.

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Sanders paid his congressional staff a total of $2,395,679 in 2011. He ranked 2nd on the list of the lowest paid independent senatorial staff salaries and ranked 26th overall of the lowest paid senatorial staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Vermont ranked 45th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.

2013

Sanders ranked 37th in the liberal rankings in 2013.

2012

Sanders ranked 32nd in the liberal rankings in 2012.

2011

Sanders ranked 29th in the liberal rankings in 2011.

Ballot measure activity

The following table details Sanders' ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:

Ballot measure support and opposition for Bernie Sanders
Ballot measure	Year	Position	Status
Maine Question 3, Pine Tree Power Company Initiative (2023)	2023	Supported	d Defeated
Ohio Issue 1, 60% Vote Requirement to Approve Constitutional Amendments Measure (2023)	2023	Opposed	d Defeated
California Proposition 21, Local Rent Control Initiative (2020)	2020	Supported	d Defeated
California Proposition 15, Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative (2020)	2020	Supported	d Defeated
Oregon Measure 107, Campaign Finance Limits Amendment (2020)	2020	Supported	a Approved
Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin, Revenue Limit Increase Measure (April 2020)	2020	Supported	a Approved
Los Angeles County, California, Measure R, Civilian Police Oversight Commission and Jail Plan Initiative (March 2020)	2020	Supported	a Approved
Albuquerque, New Mexico, Proposition 2, Democracy Dollars Program Initiative (November 2019)	2019	Supported	d Defeated
California Proposition 10, Local Rent Control Initiative (2018)	2018	Supported	d Defeated
Colorado Amendment 73, Establish Income Tax Brackets and Raise Taxes for Education Initiative (2018)	2018	Supported	d Defeated
Colorado Amendment 74, Compensation to Owners for Decreased Property Value Due to State Regulation Initiative (2018)	2018	Opposed	d Defeated
Colorado Proposition 112, Minimum Distance Requirements for New Oil, Gas, and Fracking Projects Initiative (2018)	2018	Supported	d Defeated
Florida Amendment 4, Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative (2018)	2018	Supported	a Approved
Massachusetts Question 1, Nurse-Patient Assignment Limits Initiative (2018)	2018	Supported	d Defeated
Missouri Proposition A, Right to Work Referendum (August 2018)	2018	Opposed	d Defeated
Washington Initiative 1631, Carbon Emissions Fee Measure (2018)	2018	Supported	d Defeated
Ohio Issue 2, Drug Price Standards Initiative (2017)	2017	Supported	d Defeated
California Proposition 59, Overturn of Citizens United Act Advisory Question (2016)	2016	Supported	a Approved
California Proposition 61, Drug Price Standards (2016)	2016	Supported	d Defeated
California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016)	2016	Supported	a Approved
Colorado Creation of ColoradoCare System, Amendment 69 (2016)	2016	Supported	d Defeated
Massachusetts Authorization of Additional Charter Schools and Charter School Expansion, Question 2 (2016)	2016	Opposed	d Defeated
Oregon Business Tax Increase, Measure 97 (2016)	2016	Supported	d Defeated
Washington Minimum Wage Increase, Initiative 1433 (2016)	2016	Supported	a Approved

Noteworthy events

Speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention

See also: Democratic National Convention, 2020

This section provides the transcript and video of the 2020 Democratic National Convention speech given by Sanders on August 17, 2020.

Transcript

“	Good evening. Our great nation is now living in an unprecedented moment. We are facing the worst public health crisis in 100 years and the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. We are confronting systemic racism and the enormous threat to our planet of climate change. And, in the midst of all of this, we have a president who is not only incapable of addressing these crises but is leading us down the path of authoritarianism. This election is the most important in the modern history of this country. In response to the unprecedented crises we face, we need an unprecedented response—a movement, like never before, of people who are prepared to stand up and fight for democracy and decency—and against greed, oligarchy, and bigotry. And we need Joe Biden as our next president. Let me take this opportunity to say a word to the millions who supported my campaign this year and in 2016. My friends, thank you for your trust, your support, and the love you showed Jane, me, and our family. Together we have moved this country in a bold new direction showing that all of us—Black and white, Latino, Native American, Asian American, gay and straight, native born and immigrant—yearn for a nation based on the principles of justice, love, and compassion. Our campaign ended several months ago, but our movement continues and is getting stronger every day. Many of the ideas we fought for, that just a few years ago were considered "radical," are now mainstream. But, let us be clear, if Donald Trump is re-elected, all the progress we have made will be in jeopardy. Defending Democracy At its most basic, this election is about preserving our democracy. During this president's term, the unthinkable has become normal. He has tried to prevent people from voting, undermined the U.S. Postal Service, deployed the military and federal agents against peaceful protesters, threatened to delay the election and suggested that he will not leave office if he loses. This is not normal, and we must never treat it like it is. Under this administration authoritarianism has taken root in our country. I, and my family, and many of yours, know the insidious way authoritarianism destroys democracy, decency, and humanity. As long as I am here, I will work with progressives, with moderates, and, yes, with conservatives to preserve this nation from a threat that so many of our heroes fought and died to defeat. The Pandemic This president is not just a threat to our democracy, but by rejecting science, he has put our lives and health in jeopardy. Trump has attacked doctors and scientists trying to protect us from the pandemic, while refusing to take strong action to produce the masks, gowns, and gloves our health care workers desperately need. Nero fiddled while Rome burned; Trump golfs. His actions fanned this pandemic resulting in over 170,000 deaths and a nation still unprepared to protect its people. The Economic Crisis Furthermore, Trump's negligence has exacerbated the economic crisis we are now experiencing. Since this pandemic began, over 30 million people have lost their jobs and many have lost their health insurance. Millions of working families are wondering how they'll feed their kids and worried that they will be evicted from their homes. And how has Trump responded? Instead of maintaining the $600 a week unemployment supplement that workers were receiving, and the $1,200 emergency checks that many of you received, instead of helping small businesses—Trump concocted fraudulent executive orders that do virtually nothing to address the crisis while threatening the very future of Social Security and Medicare. Trump the Fraud My friends, the American people have caught on that this president and his administration are, to put it bluntly, frauds. In 2016, Trump promised he would stand with working families. He said that he would "drain the swamp," take on Wall Street and powerful special interests. He would protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and, by the way, he would provide health care to "everybody." Well. None of it was true. Instead, he filled his administration with billionaires and gave trillions to the top 1 percent and large corporations. He tried to throw 32 million people off of their health insurance, eliminate protections for pre-existing conditions, and submitted budgets that proposed slashing Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Joe Biden But the truth is that, even before Trump's negligent response to this pandemic, too many hard-working families have been caught on an economic treadmill with no hope of ever getting ahead. Together we must build a nation that is more equitable, more compassionate and more inclusive. I know that Joe Biden will begin that fight on day one. Let me offer you just a few examples of how Joe will move us forward. Joe supports raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. This will give 40 million workers a pay raise and push the wage scale up for everyone else. Joe will also make it easier for workers to join unions, create 12 weeks of paid family leave, fund universal pre-K for 3- and 4-year olds, and make child care affordable for millions of families. Joe will rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and fight the threat of climate change by transitioning us to 100 percent clean electricity over the next fifteen years. These initiatives will create millions of good paying jobs all across the country. As you know, we are the only industrialized nation not to guarantee health care for all people. While Joe and I disagree on the best path to get to universal coverage, he has a plan that will greatly expand health care and cut the cost of prescription drugs. Further, he will lower the eligibility age of Medicare from 65 to 60. To help reform our broken criminal justice system Joe will end private prisons and detention centers, cash bail, and the school to prison pipeline. And to heal the soul of our nation, Joe Biden will end the hate and division Trump has created. He will stop the demonization of immigrants, the coddling of white nationalists, the racist dog whistling, the religious bigotry, and the ugly attacks on women. My friends, I say to you, to everyone who supported other candidates in the primary and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: The future of our democracy is at stake. The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake. We must come together, defeat Donald Trump and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president. My friends, the price of failure is just too great to imagine.	”
—Sen. Bernie Sanders, August 17, 2020

Video

Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) at the 2020 Democratic National Convention

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sanders lives in Burlington, Vermont, with his wife Jane O’Meara. Sanders and his wife have four children.

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term Bernie + Sanders + Vermont + Senate

Bernie Sanders News Feed

See also

• United States Senate
• U.S. Senate delegation from Vermont

External links

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Candidate

President of the United States

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Officeholder

U.S. Senate Vermont

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by James Merrill Jeffords	U.S. Senate Vermont 2007-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	U.S. House Vermont At-large District 1991-2007	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Mayor of Burlington 1981-1989	Succeeded by -

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Vermont's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Bernie Sanders (I)

Peter Welch (D)

Representatives

Becca Balint (D)

Democratic Party (2)

Independent (1)