Speaking to a packed house at San Antonio’s Paper Tiger on Monday night, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) sought to reengage potential Democratic voters who’ve become disillusioned with their choices in the November presidential race.
Sanders was last on the ballot in Bexar County when he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and took 33% of the vote — more than any other candidate including then-candidate Joe Biden.
On Monday night, he and other progressive leaders aimed to reel in supporters still yearning for a more progressive voice at the top of the ticket.
“I know, to be perfectly honest, that there are people all across the country who have disagreements with [Vice President] Kamala [Harris] and the Biden administration,” Sanders told the crowd at the St. Mary’s strip music venue.
For example, he said, “the absolutely horrific war that’s taking place in Gaza… I have a disagreement with the Biden administration on that issue.”
The crowd roared with cheers at his mention of an issue that Harris campaign has tried to strike a delicate balance on — and that President Joe Biden steered clear of altogether for months while left-leaning protestors were urging U.S. leaders to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War.
But Sanders said that on other issues important to the left, like reproductive rights, Harris had been an ally.
And he spent the majority of his speech framing the presidential race as a referendum on former Republican President Donald Trump, who he said would eliminate the possibility of progress on climate change and use his power to cut taxes for corporations and the wealthy.
“People on top have never, ever had it so good,” Sanders said. “What Donald Trump wants to do is continue to give, as he did before, massive tax breaks to billionaires.”
If Harris is successful in November, he continued, progressives should think about how they might help shape the direction of a new administration.
“After we win this election…then come on back and fight for the agenda that tells the ruling class of this country they cannot have it all,” he said.
The overall event Monday was aimed at young progressives, featuring booths for groups like the Buckle Bunnies, which helps Texans get abortions out of state, and those who handed out condoms and Plan B pills.
But while a recent UTSA poll indicated Democratic enthusiasm has grown in Bexar County since Harris replaced Biden as the nominee, organizers did not hide from the fact that many of Sanders’ supporters are loyal to him — not to the Democratic Party.
“I hate having to choose between the lesser of two evils,” said Molly Brandt, a 34-year-old floral designer, who came to Monday’s event to see Sanders. “I’m definitely going to vote for Kamala, but aside from that I don’t have a lot of positive things to say.”
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin), a member of the House’ Progressive Caucus who represents much of downtown San Antonio, said in an interview after the event that such voters were precisely the reason he invited Sanders to his district for Monday’s rally.
“Senator Sanders has an ability to inspire voters who sometimes have quit on politics,” Casar said. “He’s actually really garnered a lot of the Latino vote and working class vote in places like San Antonio because of his message on economic justice.”
They’ll host similar rallies on Tuesday at Texas State University in San Marcos and the University of Texas in Austin, with a growing roster of progressive leaders including U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York).
“It’s important for voters who feel disaffected with the Democratic Party, instead of them feeling lectured at, for them to hear from independent leaders,” Casar said.
