2020 Presidential Campaign Blog

Bernie Sanders Returns to Southern California on August 5-6, 2019

Bernie Sanders Returns to Southern California on August 5-6, 2019

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders will return to Southern California next week. On Monday, he will participate in the UnidosUS Presidential Forum in San Diego and host a town hall with immigrant workers in Vista. On Tuesday, Sen. Sanders will host a town hall on affordable housing in Los Angeles and a rally in Long Beach.

Here is the itinerary:

Monday, August 5th
6:00 p.m. Town Hall with Immigrant Workers
Centro Universidad Popular,1234 North Santa Fe Ave, Vista CA
Information for the public: Doors open at 4:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:00 p.m. Additional parking and free community carpooling meeting locations are at Vista Transit Center Parking 240 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92056, Vista Sprinter Station 215 Goetting Way, Vista, and the Vista Library 700 Eucalyptus Ave, Vista.

Tuesday, August 6th
12:00 p.m. Town Hall on Affordable Housing
Temple Ahavat Shalom, 18200 Rinaldi Place Northridge, CA
Information for the public: Doors open at 10:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool.

3:30 p.m. Site Visits to Housing and Homelessness Service Programs in Los Angeles
Location given upon RSVP.
Information for the public: This event is not open to the public.

7:00 p.m. Bernie 2020 Rally in Long Beach
Long Beach City College, Liberal Arts Campus - E Quad, 4901 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA
Information for the public: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is available for $2 in Lots E, F, G, & H, and Parking Structure J. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool.

Bernie Sanders Returns to Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4, 2019

Bernie Sanders Returns to Las Vegas to Address Economic Security with Working Class Nevadans

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders will return to Nevada on Saturday, August 3rd, to participate in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ (AFSCME) 2020 Public Service Forum. After Saturday’s forum, the senator will host a panel discussion with locals on concerns they have about the economic crisis facing working Nevadans, followed the next day by a town hall on jobs and economic security. The senator will conclude his trip with the grand opening of his campaign field office in Northwest Las Vegas.

Here is the itinerary:

Saturday, August 3rd
3:00 p.m. ASK BERNIE 2020: Economic Crisis Facing Working People
The Center, 401 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Information for the public: Doors open at 1:30pm. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool.

Sunday, August 4th
12:00 p.m. Town Hall on Jobs and Economic Security
Cheyenne High School, 3200 W Alexander Rd, North Las Vegas, NV 89032
Information for the public: Doors open at 10:30am. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool.

2:00 p.m. Bernie 2020 Northwest Las Vegas Field Office Grand Opening
101 Rainbow Blvd, Suite 17, Las Vegas, NV 89145
Information for the public: Doors open at 1:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders-attend/14241

Bernie Sanders Raises $1.1 Million and Receives Over 70,000 Contributions Since Yesterday's Debate

Bernie Sanders Wins Debate, Raises $1.1 Million and Receives Over 70,000 Contributions Since Yesterday

DETROIT – In addition to a commanding debate performance, Bernie Sanders’ campaign raised $1.1 million and received more than 70,000 contributions from small-dollar donors since yesterday, marking a strong and growing grassroots movement.

“Bernie Sanders commanded the debate, his vision and ideas dominated the stage, and he left absolutely no doubt that he is the best candidate ready to take this fight to Donald Trump and finally bring the change we need to America,” said Campaign Manager Faiz Shakir. “Bernie Sanders stood out as a champion of working people and marginalized communities.”

Much of yesterday’s debate centered on Sanders’ signature policy, Medicare for All. Bernie’s plan to provide all people with comprehensive health care won out over other candidates’ push to continue providing billions to the big pharma and for-profit health insurers.

Earlier this month, Sanders made the “No Health Insurance and Pharma Money” pledge and called on fellow presidential candidates to reject campaign donations from health insurance and pharmaceutical industry executives, lobbyists and PACs. To date, only one other contender has committed to the pledge while the rest of the field continues to accept donations from industry executives who drive the current dysfunctional, for-profit health care system.

Since launching the campaign, Bernie 2020 has received over 2 million individual contributions. He is the only Democratic candidate to have more individual contributions than Donald Trump. In the second quarter, the most frequent donations by occupation and employer came from teachers and Walmart workers. Of the 70,000 contributions since yesterday, the top employers were Starbucks, USPS, Amazon and WalMart, with Los Angeles Unified School District Teachers rounding out the top ten.

Bernie Sanders Returns to Los Angeles, California on July 25-26, 2019

Bernie Sanders Returns to Los Angeles, California on July 25-26, 2019

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders will return to the Los Angeles area next week. On Thursday he will host a town hall and a grassroots fundraiser and on Friday Sen. Sanders will hold a rally in Santa Monica.

Here is the itinerary:

Thursday, July 25
2:15 p.m. Town Hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders
Aratani Theater - 244 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Information for the public: Doors open at 12:45pm. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders/12362/

7:00 p.m. Bernie 2020 Grassroots Fundraiser
Location available upon RSVP
Information for the public: Event starts at 5:30pm. This event is a ticketed event, tickets can be purchased here. Tickets start at $27. All ages are welcome, but please bring an I.D for 21+. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool.

Friday, July 26
6:00 p.m. Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders
Santa Monica High School Amphitheater - 601 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Information for the public: Doors open at 4:30pm. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders/12363/

Bernie Sanders to Return to Iowa on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, 2019 *Updated

Bernie Sanders to Return to Iowa on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, 2019 *Updated

DES MOINES -- Sen. Bernie Sanders will return to Iowa for stops next Saturday and Sunday in Council Bluffs, Afton, Nevada, Ottumwa, and Fort Madison.

Earlier this month, Sanders visited Iowa and held stops in Iowa City, Des Moines, Ames and marched in five Independence Day parades across Iowa.

Here is the itinerary:

Saturday, July 20th

10:30 a.m. Council Bluffs Office Opening with Sen. Bernie Sanders
217 S Main St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Information for the public: This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders-attend/11734

11:45 a.m. Senior Issues Roundtable with Sen. Bernie Sanders
The Gathering Room, 1900 Madison Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Information for the public: This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders-attend/11735

2:00 p.m. AARP Presidential Forum with Sen. Bernie Sanders
2700 College Road, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Information for the public: This is a ticketed event for AARP members only.

4:30 p.m. Union County Fair with Sen. Bernie Sanders
Union County Democratic Party Booth, Union County Fairgrounds, 301 S Grace St, Afton, IA 50830
Information for the public: This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders-attend/11736

7:30 p.m. Iowa Farmers Union Summer Picnic with Sen. Bernie Sanders
19775 600th Ave, Nevada, IA 50201
Information for the public: This is a ticketed event for Iowa Farmers Union Members only. Union memberships can be purchased at the door.

Sunday, July 21st

10:00 a.m. Union Workers and Retirees Coffee with Sen. Bernie Sanders
UAW Local 74, 205 N James St, Ottumwa, IA 52501
Information for the public: This event is not open to the public.

11:00 a.m. Ottumwa Office Opening with Sen. Bernie Sanders
236 E Main St, Ottumwa, IA 52501
Information for the public: This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders-attend/11737

1:30 p.m. Fort Madison Rally with State Rep. Jeff Kurtz and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Rodeo Park Enclosed Shelter, 2134 202nd Ave, Fort Madison, IA 52627
Information for the public: This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders-attend/11738

4:45 p.m. Davenport Office Opening with Sen. Bernie Sanders
4436 North Brady St STE 103, Davenport, IA 52806
Information for the public: This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/event-bernie-sanders-attend/11911

Bernie Sanders 2020 Expands Staff, Offices in New Hampshire

Bernie Sanders 2020 Expands Staff, Offices in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER – Bernie 2020 announced Thursday it has 45 staffers on the ground in New Hampshire, the majority of which are focused on field and community organizing. The campaign will also be opening field offices in Manchester, Portsmouth, Dover, and West Lebanon. The Greater Nashua field office was opened last month with Sen. Sanders and Campaign Co-Chair Ben Cohen. Including campaign headquarters, NH for Bernie now has six offices throughout the state.

"From day one of this campaign, I have said we will take nothing for granted here in the first-in-the-nation primary. We're building out the organization we need to talk to every Granite Stater in every corner of New Hampshire and earn their vote. I'm proud of the team we put together," said Joe Caiazzo, State Director.

Bernie Sanders 2020 Rolls Out Second Round of New Hampshire Endorsements

Bernie Sanders  2020 Rolls Out Second Round of New Hampshire Endorsements
Sanders announces additional endorsers, including the Hon. Mark MacKenzie

MANCHESTER -- Following his most recent visit to the Granite State, Sen. Bernie Sanders announced an additional slate of endorsements from state elected officials and notable leaders in New Hampshire. The endorsements come a day after announcing nearly one million small-dollar contributions to the campaign in the second quarter, predominantly given by working-class voters.
Headlining the latest endorsements, New Hampshire AFL-CIO President Emeritus the Hon. Mark MacKenzie said:

“My life has been about fighting for working people and there’s no other candidate in the field who embodies that solidarity more than Sen. Bernie Sanders. He is deeply committed to helping create good jobs and opportunities for Granite Staters, ensuring everybody in our state has healthcare, and strengthening collective bargaining rights for all people. He’s always held consistent pressure on that pedal of change. Bernie is the best person to take the fight directly to Donald Trump and deliver a historic win for Democrats in 2020.”

The Hon. Mark MacKenzie is the Former President of the New Hampshire American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). He became the president of the New Hampshire chapter of the country's largest labor federation in 1989, and served through 2015. MacKenzie has been a lifelong servant to his community, working both in the labor movement and as a firefighter serving 25 years.

Four additional state representatives join MacKenzie in endorsing Sen. Sanders:

• Representative and Alderman Jan Schmidt, (Nashua) Hillsborough - District 28: Representing Ward 1 in the City of Nashua in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and on the Board of Aldermen, Rep. and Ald. Schmidt was first elected to the NH House in 2012 and to the Nashua Board of Aldermen in 2017.

• Representative Ryan Buchannan, (Concord) Merrimack - District 15: Representing the City of Concord, and a U.S. Navy veteran, Rep. Buchannan was first elected in 2018 and serves on the House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee.

• Representative Frances Nutter-Upham, (Nashua) Hillsborough - District 33: Representing Ward 6 in the City of Nashua, Rep. Nutter-Upham was first elected in 2018 and serves on the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee.

• Representative Dan Toomey, (Nashua) Hillsborough - District 32: Representing Ward 5 in the City of Nashua, and a retired Firefighter, Rep. Toomey was first elected in 2018 and serves on the House Committee on Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee.

Nine initial endorsers were announced May 15 and include:

Alderman at-Large Brandon Laws, City of Nashua, Representative Josh Adjutant, (Ashland) Grafton - District 17, Representative Mark King, (Nashua) Hillsborough - District 33, Representative Skip Cleaver, (Nashua) Hillsborough - District 35, Representative Tim Smith, (Manchester) Hillsborough - District 17, Representative Catherine Sofikitis, (Nashua) Hillsborough - District 34, Representative Ellen Read, (Newmarket) Rockingham - District 17, Representative Art Ellison, (Concord) Merrimack - District 27, and Representative Cam Kenney, (Durham) Strafford - District 6.

Bernie Sanders 2020 Eclipses Trump’s Individual Donations in Q2

Bernie Sanders 2020 Eclipses Trump’s Individual Donations in Q2

Grassroots fundraising lead mirrored in two new polls released Wednesday showing Sanders closing the gap on Biden

WASHINGTON – The Bernie 2020 campaign eclipsed the Trump campaign’s number of individual donations as Bernie Sanders continues to surge in national polls following the first debate.

“Defeating Donald Trump is the top priority for Democrats across America and only Bernie Sanders has the grassroots fundraising and proven record of fighting for economic and social justice to win the White House in 2020,” said Bernie 2020 campaign manager Faiz Shakir. “There will be peaks and valleys in this primary, but we will not be riding the pollercoaster. We’re going to continue our work building in the latter half of this year and bringing in new voters and donors who will help put Bernie over the top.”

On Tuesday, Bernie 2020 announced nearly 1 million donations in the second quarter, surpassing the Trump campaign's number by over 250,000 donations. Trump’s campaign has touted their 725,000 individuation donations online in the second quarter as integral to their campaign strategy. However, since announcing in the first quarter, Bernie Sanders has already received 1.9 million donations, eclipsing both Trump and every Democratic candidate in the primary field. Sanders’ fundraising base has also shown room for significant growth, as 46% of the Q2 donors were giving for the first time and 99.9% of all donors are able to contribute again.

In addition to the strongest grassroots fundraising in the field, multiple national post-debate polls have shown Sanders continuing to lead Trump in general election match-ups and building on a strong position in the Democratic primary:

• Washington Post/ABC (7/3): Sanders at 23%, just 6 points behind first and gaining 12 points in the two months since Biden launched his campaign. Sanders leads the field among voters under age 50, and has a diverse coalition, including 23% support from African American voters.

• Reuters/IPSOS (7/3): Sanders at 16%, just 6 points behind first and building on IPSOS polls from April and May.

• Morning Consult (6/30): Sanders in second place at 19% -- and following the debate, Sanders now has the highest favorable ratings of any Democratic candidate.

During both Democratic debates, Bernie Sanders’ vision dominated the policy discussions. Recent polls this week show that Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All arguments are deeply effective with primary and general election voters:

• CNN (7/1): With 26% support, this poll of Democratic and Democratic-leaning found “the candidate who is seen as the strongest on health care is Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the candidate who unapologetically backs Medicare for All.”

• Morning Consult (7/2): Despite a well-funded campaign attacking Sanders’ Medicare for All proposal, this poll shows “55% of voters back a Medicare for All system that diminishes the role of private insurers if they retain access to their preferred providers.” That includes 78% of Democratic voters and 56% of independent voters.

• Univision (7/1): Univision’s national poll of Latino voters found Bernie Sanders with double digit leads as the top candidate to address the issues of health care and college affordability.

In addition to leading in grassroots fundraising and public opinion on policies, Sanders continues to lead Trump in head-to-head polling: 25 out of 26 polls since March find Bernie Sanders defeating Donald Trump in 2020.

Bernie Sanders 2020 Reports $24 Million from Nearly 1 Million Donations in the Second Fundraising Quarter

Bernie Sanders2020 Reports $24 Million in Q2
In second quarter, Sanders amasses nearly 1 million small-dollar donations; 99.9% of donors can continue giving

WASHINGTON, July 2 – Bernie 2020 today announced a record grassroots fundraising haul with nearly 1 million donations in the second fundraising quarter. Overall the campaign booked $24 million in the second quarter, raising $18 million and transferring $6 million. This quarter’s fundraising reflects a growing and persistent grassroots movement in support of Sen. Sanders’ presidential bid driven by working people. The average donation was $18 and nearly 99.9% of donors can give again, showing durable and energetic grassroots support that will continue to back the campaign in the many months leading up to the first caucuses and primaries.

Sanders held exactly zero big dollar fundraisers and rejected money from Wall Street executives and the fossil fuel industry. 99.3% percent of donations were $100 or less. The most frequent donations by occupation and employer came from teachers and Walmart workers. Since the launch of the campaign, there have been nearly 2 million individual donations.

“This is a movement built by working people all across this country,” said campaign manager Faiz Shakir. “While other candidates court big money at fancy fundraisers, this campaign is supported by teachers, retail workers, and nurses who are putting what little money they have behind the one candidate who can bring about the transformative change this country needs. Our strength is in numbers and we have a million person movement committed to this campaign who can give over and over again.”

Other numbers to note:

The campaign received almost 200,000 individual donations since the day of the first debate
The 2016 campaign did not get to 2 million donations until December of 2015 — eight months into the campaign
The most common profession was a teacher
The most common employer was Walmart. Others in the top 10 include Amazon, Starbucks, Target and the US Postal Service — the people Bernie is fighting for
More than 225,000 donations from people in the first five states during Q2

The second quarter fundraising haul comes as Bernie 2020 lends its traditional fundraising channels, like email and peer-to-peer texting, to support issue advocacy causes and local activism. In the last few months, Bernie 2020 has emailed and texted supporters to warn them of ICE raids and inform immigrants of their rights, turn out people to support workers on picket lines at McDonalds, the University of California, Delta and American Airlines, Wabtec, Amazon, General Motors, Disney, and Nissan, and fundraise for local abortion rights groups after the Alabama abortion ban.

“You don’t need Wall Street or fossil fuel money to harness a movement. In fact, by rejecting the influence of corporate money we have built a campaign that not only speaks to the working people and their issues but supports them in tangible ways. This is what a Bernie Sanders presidency would look like,” said Shakir.

Bernie Sanders Returns to Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, July 6, 2019

Bernie Sanders Returns to Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, July 6, 2019

Sanders to Hold Las Vegas Town Hall, Host Roundtable with Veterans, Attend Grand Opening of Bernie 2020 East Las Vegas Office

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders will return to Nevada on Saturday, July 6th to host a town hall at the Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Las Vegas. The senator will then head over to Veterans Village to speak with local veterans on housing and health care, and conclude his trip with a visit to the Bernie 2020 East Las Vegas field office grand opening.

Here is the itinerary:

Saturday, July 6

11:30 a.m. West Las Vegas Town Hall
Victory Missionary Baptist Church, 500 W Monroe Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89106
Information for the public: Doors open at 10:00am. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool.
https://act.berniesanders.com/event/bernie-town-hall-campaign_attend/10953

3:00 p.m. Veterans Issues Roundtable with Nevada Democratic Veterans & Military Families Caucus
Veterans Village II, 50 N 21st St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
This event is not open to the public.

4:30 p.m. Bernie 2020 East Las Vegas Office Grand Opening
Bernie 2020 East Las Vegas Office, 5001 E. Bonanza Rd, Suite 118 Las Vegas, NV 89118
Information for the public: Doors open at 3:30pm. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or carpool. https://act.berniesanders.com/event/officeopening_attend/10954