Bernie Sanders's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Bernie Sanders.

Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician and the senior U.S. Senator from Vermont since 2007. As the longest-serving independent in Congress, he closely aligns with the Democratic Party, twice seeking their presidential nomination. A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders is a leading figure in the modern American progressive movement, advocating for policies that address income inequality, universal healthcare, and campaign finance reform. His long career in public service reflects a consistent commitment to social and economic justice.

Sections (7)

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

1963: End of racial segregation

In the summer of 1963, the University of Chicago ended racial segregation in private university housing.

1965: First Eugene V. Debs Foundation Award

In 1965, John L. Lewis won the first Eugene V. Debs Foundation Award.

1981: Elected mayor of Burlington, Vermont

In 1981, Sanders was elected as an independent for mayor of Burlington, Vermont.

1981: Campaign against waterfront development plans

In 1981, as mayor, Sanders campaigned against plans to convert Burlington's waterfront into expensive condominiums, hotels, and offices, supporting a plan for a mixed-use district.

1990: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1990, Sanders was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Vermont's at-large congressional district.

1991: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1991, Sanders was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, marking the first time an independent was elected since 1952 and the first socialist since 1948.

October 24, 1992: Cancer Registries Amendment Act signed into law

On October 24, 1992, President George H. W. Bush signed the Cancer Registries Amendment Act into law after it passed both the House and Senate.

2005: Named "amendment king" by Rolling Stone

In 2005, Rolling Stone called Sanders the "amendment king" for passing more roll call amendments than any other congressman since 1995, due to his ability to form coalitions across party lines as an independent.

2006: Elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2006, Sanders was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first non-Republican elected to Vermont's Class 1 seat since 1850.

December 2009: Added provision to Affordable Care Act to fund community health centers

In mid-December 2009, Bernie Sanders successfully added a provision to the Affordable Care Act to fund $11 billion to community health centers, especially those in rural areas.

August 2011: Approval rating of 67%

In August 2011, a Public Policy Polling found that Sanders's approval rating was 67% and his disapproval rating 28%, making him then the third-most popular US senator.

2012: Re-elected to the Senate

In 2012, Sanders was re-elected to the U.S. Senate.

June 9, 2014: Sponsored Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act

On June 9, 2014, Bernie Sanders sponsored the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs in the wake of the Veterans Health Administration scandal.

July 31, 2014: Veterans' Access to Care bill passes both chambers

On July 31, 2014, Bernie Sanders' bill, the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, which was incorporated into the House version, passed both chambers of Congress.

August 7, 2014: Veterans' Access to Care bill signed into law

On August 7, 2014, the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, sponsored by Bernie Sanders, was signed into law by President Obama.

2014: Ranked third in favorability

In 2014 Bernie Sanders ranked third in favorability

June 2015: Campaign Events Draw Overflow Crowds

In June 2015, Bernie Sanders' campaign events unexpectedly drew large crowds across the country, surpassing those of Hillary Clinton in some instances.

July 1, 2015: Campaign Stop in Madison Draws Largest Crowd

On July 1, 2015, Bernie Sanders' campaign stop in Madison, Wisconsin, drew the largest crowd of any 2016 presidential candidate to that date, with approximately 10,000 attendees.

July 29, 2015: Online Meetup Draws 100,000 Supporters

On July 29, 2015, an online meetup organized by the Sanders campaign brought 100,000 supporters to over 3,500 simultaneous events nationwide, demonstrating the campaign's grassroots support.

November 2015: Most popular U.S. Senator

In a November 2015 Morning Consult poll, Bernie Sanders reached an 83% approval rating among his constituents, making him the most popular US senator.

December 4, 2015: Won Time's Person of the Year readers' poll

On December 4, 2015, Bernie Sanders won Time's 2015 Person of the Year readers' poll with 10.2% of the vote, though he did not receive the editorial board's award.

March 20, 2016: Given honorary Lushootseed name

On March 20, 2016, Bernie Sanders was given the honorary Lushootseed name dxʷshudičup by Deborah Parker in Seattle to honor his focus on Native American issues during his presidential campaign.

2016: Ranked first in favorability

In 2016 Bernie Sanders ranked first in favorability.

March 2017: Highest net favorability of any prominent politician

In March 2017, Fox News found Bernie Sanders to have the highest net favorability of any prominent politician included in its poll, at +28 points.

April 2017: Highest favorability rating of any political figure

In April 2017, a nationwide Harvard-Harris Poll found that Bernie Sanders had the highest favorability rating of any political figure included in the poll.

May 30, 2017: Received honorary degree from Brooklyn College

On May 30, 2017, Bernie Sanders received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Brooklyn College.

October 2018: Sponsored bill to end US support for Saudi-led intervention in Yemen

In October 2018, after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, Bernie Sanders' bill to end US support for the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen attracted bipartisan support and passed the Senate by a vote of 56-41.

2018: Reelection to the US Senate

In 2018, Sanders secured reelection to the United States Senate, maintaining his strategy of running as an independent after winning the Democratic primary.

February 2019: Bill to end US support for Saudi-led intervention in Yemen passes House

In February 2019, the bill sponsored by Bernie Sanders to end US support for the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen passed the House by a 247-175 vote.

April 6, 2019: Fox News Town Hall

On April 6, 2019, Sanders participated in a Fox News town hall that attracted more than 2.55 million viewers, exceeding the ratings of all other Democratic presidential candidate town halls that year.

June 2019: Sanders Campaign Leads in Fundraising

In June 2019, Sanders's campaign had raised the most money in the 2020 Democratic field, according to Federal Election Commission filings, including funds left over from his 2018 Senate and 2016 presidential races.

September 2019: Campaign Reaches One Million Donors

In September 2019, the Sanders campaign became the fastest in US history to reach one million donors, demonstrating significant grassroots support.

October 1, 2019: Campaign Announces Fundraising Numbers

On October 1, 2019, Bernie Sanders's campaign announced it had raised $25.3 million in the third quarter of the year, with an average donation of $18, marking the largest quarterly sum raised by any Democratic candidate at that time.

February 2020: Sanders Leads in Democratic Primary

From mid-February 2020 to the start of March, Sanders polled in first place in the Democratic primary ahead of Joe Biden, with the press describing him as the party's presidential front-runner.