Challenges in the Life of Bernie Sanders in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Bernie Sanders faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Vermont. As the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history, he has maintained a close relationship with the Democratic Party, caucusing with them in both the House and Senate. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in both 2016 and 2020. Sanders is widely considered a leading figure in the modern American progressive movement, advocating for policies such as Medicare for All, free college tuition, and a higher minimum wage.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

January 1962: Protested segregated housing at University of Chicago

In January 1962, Sanders protested the University of Chicago's segregated campus housing policy, leading a sit-in at the administration building.

1972: Ran for Governor and U.S. Senator

In 1972, Sanders ran as the Liberty Union candidate for governor of Vermont and as a candidate in the special election for U.S. senator.

1974: Ran for U.S. Senator

In 1974, Sanders ran in the general election for U.S. senator.

1976: Ran for Governor

In 1976, Sanders ran as the Liberty Union candidate for governor of Vermont.

1981: Campaign against waterfront development

In 1981, Bernie Sanders campaigned against Burlington developer Tony Pomerleau's plans to convert the industrial waterfront into expensive condominiums, hotels, and offices. Running under the slogan "Burlington is not for sale," he successfully supported a plan to redevelop the area into a mixed-use district with housing, parks, and public spaces in 1981.

1988: House election

In 1988, Sanders ran for the U.S. House seat representing Vermont's at-large congressional district as an independent, placing second with 38% of the vote.

1994: Won reelection by 3%

During the 1994 Republican Revolution, Sanders won reelection to the House by 3%, with 50% of the vote.

2007: Immigration Reform Bill Opposition

In 2007, Bernie Sanders helped kill a bill introducing comprehensive immigration reform, arguing that its guest-worker program would depress wages for American workers.

2011: Potential Primary Challenge

In 2011, Bernie Sanders suggested it was "a good idea" for someone to challenge Obama and "got so close to running a primary challenge."

2012: Consideration of Primary Challenge to Obama

During the 2012 Democratic presidential primaries, Bernie Sanders considered running against President Obama in the primaries.

2013: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairmanship

In 2013, Bernie Sanders was chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs during the Veterans Health Administration scandal.

May 2015: DNC announces debate schedule, criticized for favoring Clinton

In May 2015, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced a schedule of six debates. This schedule was criticized for the small number of debates and the timing, which critics alleged was designed to protect Hillary Clinton.

September 2015: The New York Times coverage of Sanders campaign reviewed

In September 2015, The New York Times' ombudsman reviewed the paper's coverage of the Sanders campaign, finding it had not always been taken seriously, with some stories being dismissive. The review also found that coverage of Sanders's campaign was much scanter than coverage of Trump's.

December 2015: Report finds major networks favored Trump over Sanders

A December 2015 report found that major networks CBS, NBC, and ABC spent 234 minutes reporting on Trump, compared to 10 minutes on Sanders, despite similar polling results, indicating a significant disparity in media coverage.

March 2016: Sanders' speech not broadcast on Super Tuesday III

On March 15, 2016, Amy Goodman noted that while speeches of Trump, Clinton, Rubio, and Cruz were broadcast in full, Sanders' speech in Phoenix, Arizona, was not mentioned, despite the rally being larger than the others.

July 2016: DNC emails leak, showing officials favored Clinton over Sanders

In July 2016, a leak of the Democratic National Committee's emails revealed DNC officials favoring Clinton over Sanders, discussing his irreligious tendencies and questioning his party loyalty. Sanders responded, calling it an outrage.

July 2016: DNC Emails Leaked

In June and July 2016, Democratic National Committee (DNC) emails leaked to the public showed that the committee leadership had favored Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders and had worked to help Clinton win the nomination.

2016: Sanders Suggested Reforms for the Democratic Party

Following Trump's victory in the 2016 elections, Bernie Sanders suggested the Democratic Party undergo a series of reforms.

2016: Sanders campaign volunteer reported suspicious activities to PAC

In 2016 a Sanders campaign volunteer contacted a political action committee (PAC) that supported the Clinton campaign to report suspicious activities.

2016: Sought Democratic presidential nomination

In 2016, Sanders sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Sanders has been viewed as the leader of the modern American progressive movement.

2016: Major candidate for Democratic presidential nomination

In 2016, Sanders was a major candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, finishing in second place. His campaign generated significant grassroots enthusiasm and funding from small-dollar donors.

2016: Legal challenge to his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination

In 2016, there was an unsuccessful legal challenge to Sanders's candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination due to his previous declinations of the Vermont Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senate in 2006 and 2012.

2016: Russia Interfered in the Election

In January 2018, Bernie Sanders voiced concern about Trump's failure to mention the finding that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election and "will likely interfere in the 2018 midterms.

2017: Sanders Criticized Trump and Promised to Defeat "Trumpism"

In 2017, Bernie Sanders criticized President Trump for appointing billionaires to his cabinet and rolling back Obama's Clean Power Plan. He also cautioned against escalating the Syrian Civil War and vowed to defeat "Trump and Trumpism".

2017: Drew Parallels Between His Campaign and Labour Party

In 2017, Sanders drew parallels between his campaign and that of the Labour Party in the UK general election, urging Democrats to adopt a more progressive platform.

2017: Criticized Republicans' use of reconciliation

In March 11, 2021, Sanders supported Senate Democrats' decision to use budget reconciliation, a procedure used to avoid filibusters, to pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, despite having criticized Republicans' use of reconciliation to pass the 2017 tax cuts.

January 2018: Sanders Responds to Trump's State of the Union

In January 2018, Bernie Sanders gave an online reply to Trump's State of the Union address, calling Trump "compulsively dishonest" and criticizing his immigration policies and failure to address Russian interference in the 2016 election.

February 2018: Mueller investigation concludes Russians communicated false information

In February 2018, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation concluded that Russians had communicated false information during the 2016 primary campaigns to help Sanders and Stein and harm Clinton. Sanders rejected the conclusion.

April 8, 2020: Suspension of Campaign

On April 8, 2020, Sanders announced the suspension of his campaign, while stating he would remain on the ballot to influence the Democratic Party's platform.

2020: Sanders Voted to Convict Trump in First Impeachment Trial

In 2020, Bernie Sanders voted to convict Trump on articles of his first impeachment trial for pressuring a foreign leader to investigate Joe Biden.

2020: Sought Democratic presidential nomination

In 2020, Sanders sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination for a second time.

2020: Major candidate for Democratic presidential nomination

In 2020, Sanders was a major candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination for a second time, finishing in second place. His strong showing in early primaries and caucuses made him the front-runner.

January 6, 2021: Sanders Comments on Capitol Attack

On January 6, 2021, after Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol, Bernie Sanders stated that Trump would "go down in history as the worst and most dangerous president in history."

February 23, 2021: Sanders Opposed Biden's Cabinet Pick

On February 23, 2021, Bernie Sanders opposed Tom Vilsack's confirmation as Agriculture Secretary, citing concerns about Vilsack's ties to large corporations.

March 11, 2021: American Rescue Plan Act Passed

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law by Biden after passing the Senate. Bernie Sanders supported the bill's passage using budget reconciliation, a procedure to avoid filibusters, even after criticizing Republicans for doing the same to pass the 2017 tax cuts.

2021: Sanders Voted to Convict Trump in Second Impeachment Trial

In 2021, Bernie Sanders voted to convict Trump on the sole article of his second impeachment trial for inciting the Capitol attack.

2022: Sanders on the 2022 Midterm Election

Before the 2022 midterm election, Bernie Sanders called it "the most consequential midterm election" of modern U.S. history, highlighting its impact on democracy, abortion, and climate change. He expressed concern that the Democratic Party had not effectively communicated its message to young people and working-class individuals.

2024: Trump's Reelection in 2024

In 2024, Trump's reelection led to policies reducing taxes on corporations and capital gains, instituting a flat income tax, and cutting Medicare and Medicaid. Elon Musk's formation of DOGE, as well as the enactment of Project 2025, were seen as myopic and unconstitutional by some.

February 2025: Sanders Began "Fight Oligarchy Tour"

In February 2025, in response to a tanking economy and alleged corruption following Trump's reelection in 2024, Bernie Sanders began a "Fight Oligarchy Tour."