Bernie Sanders facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bernie Sanders
Official portrait, 2023
United States Senator from Vermont
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2007 Serving with Peter Welch
Preceded by	Jim Jeffords
Senate committee roles Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Incumbent Assumed office January 3, 2025 Preceded by Bill Cassidy Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by Patty Murray Succeeded by Bill Cassidy Chair of the Senate Democratic Outreach Committee Incumbent Assumed office January 3, 2017 Leader Chuck Schumer Vice Chair Catherine Cortez Masto Preceded by Amy Klobuchar (Steering and Outreach) Chair of the Senate Budget Committee In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 Preceded by Mike Enzi Succeeded by Sheldon Whitehouse Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 Preceded by Patty Murray Succeeded by Johnny Isakson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large district
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Peter Plympton Smith
Succeeded by	Peter Welch
37th Mayor of Burlington
In office April 6, 1981 – April 4, 1989
Preceded by	Gordon Paquette
Succeeded by	Peter Clavelle
Personal details
Born	Bernard Sanders (1941-09-08) September 8, 1941 (age 83) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Independent (1978–present)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (2015–2016, 2019–2020) Vermont Progressive (1981–present) Liberty Union (1970–1977)
Spouses	Deborah Shiling ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1966)​ Jane O'Meara ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	1
Relatives	Larry Sanders (brother)
Education	Brooklyn College University of Chicago (BA)
Signature

Bernard Sanders (born September 8, 1941) is an American politician. He is a senior United States senator from Vermont. Sanders is the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history. He often works closely with the Democratic Party. He tried to become president for the Democrats in 2016 and 2020. Many people see him as a leader of the modern American progressive movement.

Sanders grew up in Brooklyn, New York City. His family was Jewish and working-class. He went to Brooklyn College and then the University of Chicago. While in college, he helped organize protests for civil rights. In 1968, he moved to Vermont. He ran for political office several times in the 1970s but did not win. In 1981, he was elected mayor of Burlington as an independent. He was reelected three times.

In 1990, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represented Vermont for 16 years. In 1991, he helped start the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group now has over 100 members. In 2006, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was the first non-Republican to win Vermont's Class 1 seat since 1850. Sanders was reelected to the Senate in 2012, 2018, and 2024. He has led important committees, like the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Senate Budget Committee. Since 2023, he has chaired the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Sanders was a major candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020. He came in second place both times. His 2016 campaign gained a lot of support from regular people. He also raised money from many small donations. In 2020, he was a leading candidate among many Democrats. He supported both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in their general election campaigns. After 2020, he became a close ally of President Biden.

Many believe Sanders has pushed the Democratic Party to be more progressive. He supports policies like universal healthcare and free college tuition. He also wants to address climate change and support labor rights. He believes in more diplomacy and less military spending. Some compare his ideas to the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Growing Up and Education

Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Eli Sanders, was a Jewish immigrant from Poland. His mother, Dorothy Glassberg, was born in New York City to Jewish parents. He has an older brother named Larry. His grandparents were killed in the Holocaust. His mother died in 1960, and his father died in 1962.

Sanders went to Brooklyn College. After that, he went to the University of Chicago. In Chicago, he was a leader in protests against segregation at the university in 1962. He earned a degree in political science in 1964. He said he was an average student. He felt his community activism was more important than classroom learning.

He was one of thousands of students who went to the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Later that summer, he was arrested for protesting segregation in Chicago's public schools. He was fined $25.

Early Political Career

Sanders started his political journey in 1971. He joined the Liberty Union Party. He ran for Governor of Vermont in 1972 and 1976. He also ran for senator in 1972 and 1974. In 1979, Sanders left the party.

He worked as a writer and director for the American People's Historical Society. He made a documentary about Eugene V. Debs.

Mayor of Burlington (1981–1989)

After his earlier campaigns, a friend suggested Sanders run for mayor of Burlington. He won the election in February 1981. He beat the current mayor by just ten votes. He started his term on April 6, 1981.

As mayor, Sanders worked to improve Burlington's Lake Champlain waterfront. He opposed plans to turn the industrial lake area into expensive buildings. He wanted it to be for everyone. His slogan was "Burlington is not for sale." He supported a plan that created housing, parks, and public spaces along the waterfront. Today, the lake area has a public beach, bike paths, and parks.

In 1987, U.S. News & World Report called Sanders one of America's best mayors. He often criticized President Ronald Reagan's policies on income inequality.

Sanders helped balance the city's budget. He left office on April 4, 1989. For a short time, he taught political science at Harvard University in 1989 and at Hamilton College in 1991.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1991–2007)

Becoming a Representative

In 1988, the House seat for Vermont became open. Sanders ran as an independent and came in second. Two years later, in 1990, he ran again and won. He defeated Peter Smith by 56% to 39%.

Sanders was the first independent elected to the U.S. House since 1952. He was also the first socialist elected since 1948. He served as a representative from 1991 until 2007. He won reelection easily most of the time. The only close race was in 1994, when he won by 3%.

Key Actions in the House

In his first year, Sanders often criticized both major political parties. He said they worked mostly for the wealthy. In 1991, he helped create the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group is made up of mostly liberal Democrats. Sanders led the group for its first eight years. He still chose to remain an independent.

In 2005, Rolling Stone magazine called Sanders the "amendment king." This was because he got more amendments passed than any other congressman since 1995. Being an independent allowed him to work with both parties.

Supporting Cancer Registries

Vermont had high rates of breast cancer. On February 7, 1992, Sanders proposed a law to create cancer registries. These would collect data on cancer cases. The bill became law on October 24, 1992.

Opposing the Patriot Act

Sanders consistently criticized the Patriot Act. He voted against the original law. He also sponsored amendments to limit its effects. In June 2005, he proposed an amendment. It would stop the government from getting people's library records. This amendment passed the House but was later removed.

Against the War in Iraq

Sanders voted against using force in Iraq in 1991 and 2002. He opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He especially disagreed with the Bush administration starting the war alone.

Trade Policy Views

In February 2005, Sanders introduced a bill. It would have ended special trade status for China. He said that trade with China was failing. He pointed out that American jobs were being lost overseas. His bill did not get a vote.

Serving in the U.S. Senate (2007–Present)

Senate Elections

Sanders decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2005. This was after Senator Jim Jeffords announced he would retire. Key Democratic leaders supported Sanders. This meant no other Democrat would run against him. He also got support from then-Senator Barack Obama.

In 2006, Sanders won the election. He beat businessman Rich Tarrant by a large margin. This was the most expensive political campaign in Vermont's history.

Sanders was reelected in 2012 with 71% of the vote. He was reelected again in 2018 with 67% of the vote. On May 6, 2024, Sanders announced he would run for a fourth Senate term. He was reelected and has said this will likely be his last term.

Legislation and Key Issues

Sanders has sponsored many bills and amendments. While he pushes for progressive ideas, he often adds small parts to larger bills. He has sponsored over 500 amendments. Many of these have become law. For example, he helped ban imported goods made by child labor. He also secured funding for community health centers.

In August 2022, Sanders voted for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. He felt it was a small step forward. This act helped cap insulin costs for seniors on Medicare. It also allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

Financial Policy

In 2008 and 2009, Sanders voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). This program helped struggling banks. He wanted to make sure TARP funds did not cause U.S. workers to lose jobs. He also supports auditing the Federal Reserve.

In 2010, Sanders gave a long speech against extending tax cuts for the wealthy. He argued it would favor the richest Americans. He said, "Enough is enough! How many homes can you own?"

Foreign Policy

On June 12, 2017, Sanders was one of only two senators to vote against new sanctions on Russia and Iran. He supported sanctions on Russia. However, he worried the Iran sanctions could harm the Iran nuclear deal.

In 2018, Sanders worked to end U.S. support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. This conflict caused many civilian deaths. His bill passed the Senate and House. However, President Trump vetoed it.

Healthcare

In 2009, Sanders added a provision to the Affordable Care Act. It gave $11 billion to community health centers. This helped get enough votes for the bill to pass. In 2017, he warned that repealing the Affordable Care Act would cause many Americans to lose healthcare.

In 2017, Sanders proposed a "Medicare for All" bill. This would create a single-payer healthcare system. It would cover vision and dental care. He argued that the Republican Party had no right to criticize it.

Income and Wealth

In April 2017, Sanders proposed raising the minimum wage for federal contract workers to $15 an hour. In 2018, he introduced the Workplace Democracy Act. This bill would make it easier for workers to join unions. He said it would help reduce income inequality.

Sanders opposed the 2018 federal budget proposed by the Trump administration. He called it a "budget for the billionaire class." He believes in a fair tax system. He also supports making large corporations pay for their employees' food stamps and Medicaid benefits.

Veterans Affairs

In 2014, Sanders sponsored a bill to reform the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He worked with Senator John McCain on this. The bill passed and became law in August 2014.

Supreme Court Nominees

Sanders has voted against several Supreme Court nominees. He opposed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. He voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2022.

Committee Work

As an independent, Sanders works with the Senate Democratic leadership. He votes with Democrats on most issues. In return, he keeps his seniority and gets committee seats. He has chaired the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the United States Senate Committee on the Budget. Since 2023, he chairs the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Presidential Campaigns

2016 Presidential Campaign

In March 2014, Sanders said he was ready to run for president in 2016. On April 28, 2015, it was reported he would run for the Democratic nomination. He would challenge Hillary Clinton. His campaign manager was Jeff Weaver. Sanders officially announced his campaign on May 26 in Burlington, Vermont.

Sanders's campaign events drew large crowds. He said he was "stunned" by the number of people. Early polls showed Clinton as the favorite. However, Sanders's support grew. By August 2015, he was leading in some New Hampshire polls.

Sanders was very popular among young voters. He won more votes from people under 30 than Trump and Clinton combined in 2016. This led to many online memes and support groups.

In September 2015, polls showed Sanders leading Clinton in Iowa. In November 2015, he gave a speech at Georgetown University. He talked about his views on democratic socialism. He linked his ideas to policies of past presidents like Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In December 2015, a poll found Sanders was more likely to beat top Republican candidates. He also won Time magazine's 2015 Person of the Year reader's poll.

In early 2016, Sanders was leading in New Hampshire and Iowa polls. His campaign advertisement, "America," was well-received. The New York Times called it "powerful" and "inspiring."

In February 2016, national polls showed Sanders and Clinton nearly tied. After the Nevada caucus, Sanders's national lead grew. A poll found him to be the most honest candidate.

On March 8, 2016, Sanders won the Michigan Democratic primary. This was a surprise victory. Polls had shown Clinton winning easily.

In April 2016, national polls showed Sanders leading Clinton. He was invited to speak at the Vatican about economic and environmental issues. He met briefly with Pope Francis. Time magazine included Sanders in its "100 Most Influential People" list for 2016.

In May 2016, Sanders won the Indiana and West Virginia primaries. Polls had predicted Clinton would win Indiana.

On June 6, 2016, Clinton reached enough delegates to become the likely Democratic nominee. Sanders stayed in the race until the 2016 Democratic National Convention in July. On July 12, 2016, Sanders announced his support for Clinton.

On July 22, 2016, information was released that showed some Democratic Party officials had tried to hurt Sanders's campaign. Sanders called for the party chairwoman to resign. She did so after the convention.

Sanders spoke at the Democratic Convention on July 25, 2016. He thanked his supporters and urged them to vote for Clinton. On July 26, 2016, Clinton officially won the nomination.

Primary Election Results

On February 1, 2016, Sanders narrowly lost the Iowa caucus to Clinton. On February 9, he won the New Hampshire caucus by a large margin. This was one of the biggest victories in years. He became the first democratic socialist to win a major party primary.

On "Super Tuesday" (March 1, 2016), Sanders won four states: Vermont, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Minnesota. On "Super Saturday" (March 5, 2016), he won Kansas and Nebraska. On March 6, he won the Maine caucuses. On March 8, he won the Michigan primaries in a surprise victory.

Sanders won the Democrats Abroad primary on March 21, 2016. He won 52 out of 55 international countries. On March 23, he won the Idaho primaries and Utah caucus. On March 26, he won Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii caucuses by large margins.

On April 5, 2016, Sanders won the Wisconsin primaries. On April 9, he won the Wyoming caucuses. On April 26, he won the Rhode Island primaries.

On May 3, 2016, Sanders won the Indiana primaries. On May 10, he won the West Virginia primaries. On May 17, he won the Oregon primaries.

On June 7, 2016, Sanders won the North Dakota and Montana primaries. He lost the last primary in Washington, D.C. on June 14, 2016.

After the Campaign

In August 2016, Sanders started "Our Revolution." This group helps educate voters and supports progressive candidates. He also planned to create The Sanders Institute. It would focus on issues like income inequality and poverty.

On November 9, 2016, Donald Trump was elected president. During the electoral college vote on December 19, 2016, Sanders received three electoral votes. These were from electors who did not want to vote for Clinton.

Many experts say Sanders's campaign made the Democratic Party more progressive. His ideas, like universal healthcare and a $15 minimum wage, became more popular. Some of his former staff started a group called Brand New Congress. It aimed to find young people to run for office.

In the 2018 midterm elections, Sanders supported many progressive candidates. Some of them won their primary elections. For example, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won her race in New York City.

2020 Presidential Campaign

Sanders was often asked if he would run for president again in 2020. He said it was too early to tell, but he did not rule it out. In early polls, Sanders was a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination.

His second campaign received support from many politicians and celebrities. These included Senator Patrick Leahy, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and actors like Danny DeVito and Jane Fonda.

Campaign Announcement

In January 2018, Sanders started a team to consider a 2020 run. In May 2018, his former campaign manager said he was "actively considering" it. Sanders announced his second presidential bid on February 19, 2019.

On March 2, 2019, Sanders held his first rally at Brooklyn College. The next day, he held another rally in Chicago. Thousands of people attended these events.

On March 5, 2019, Sanders signed a "loyalty pledge." This stated he was a member of the Democratic Party. He would serve as a Democrat if elected president.

Debates and Fundraising

Sanders participated in several Democratic primary debates. He often discussed progressive ideas.

After his announcement, Sanders quickly raised over $1 million from small donations. Within 24 hours, he raised $5.9 million from 225,000 small donations. The average donation was $27. By November 2019, his campaign had received over four million individual donations. This was the most for any presidential candidate in U.S. history.

Poll Numbers

In April 2019, a national poll showed Sanders leading Joe Biden among Democratic voters. Throughout 2019, Sanders polled between 15-20% nationally. In November 2019, Sanders saw a rise in polls. He moved into second place behind Biden.

In January 2020, an Iowa poll showed Sanders tied for first place. He was also leading in New Hampshire polls. A few weeks later, Sanders was leading in a nationwide poll. After the Iowa caucuses, a national poll had Sanders leading the race.

Primary and Caucus Results

On February 3, 2020, the Iowa caucuses were held. There were issues with counting votes. Sanders won the popular vote, but Pete Buttigieg won more state delegates.

On February 11, 2020, Sanders won the New Hampshire primary. On February 23, he won the Nevada caucus by a large margin. After this, Sanders became the Democratic front-runner. He was the first candidate to win the popular vote in the first three primary states.

On Super Tuesday (March 3, 2020), Sanders won California, Utah, Colorado, and Vermont. He lost many other states to Joe Biden. On March 11, Sanders won the North Dakota caucus. However, he lost Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Washington, and Idaho to Biden.

Ending the Campaign

On April 8, 2020, Sanders ended his campaign. He had not won many primary contests after Super Tuesday. Sanders said he would stay on the ballot to keep delegates. He wanted to add progressive ideas to the Democratic Party and Biden's campaign. On April 13, Sanders urged voters to support Biden for president.

Sanders spoke on the first day of the 2020 Democratic National Convention on August 17, 2020. After Biden won the election, Sanders was considered for Labor Secretary. He said he would accept the role if offered. However, Biden chose Marty Walsh instead. Biden said he did not want to risk the Democratic majority in the Senate.

Political Beliefs and Policies

Sanders calls himself a democratic socialist. He is a progressive and populist. He admires social programs in Europe. He supports workplace democracy, where workers have more control. He criticizes modern capitalism. He blames it for problems like declining life expectancy.

He supports universal healthcare and paid parental leave. He also wants tuition-free tertiary education (college). He aims to lower drug costs by changing patent laws. He supported the Affordable Care Act, but felt it did not go far enough. In 2015, he explained his view of democratic socialism. He said it means a decent standard of living for working families.

Some describe Sanders as a market socialist or reformist socialist. Others call him a social democrat. His policies focus on tax-funded social benefits.

Climate Change

Sanders sees global warming as a serious problem. He wants strong action to reverse its effects. He calls for big investments in infrastructure. These investments would focus on energy efficiency and creating jobs. He believes climate change is the biggest threat to national security. He also opposed the Dakota Access Pipeline. In 2019, he supported the Green New Deal. He proposed declaring climate change a national emergency.

Economic Issues

Sanders focuses on economic fairness. He wants to reduce income and wealth inequality. He aims to fight poverty and raise the minimum wage. He supports universal healthcare and canceling all student debt. He wants to make public colleges tuition-free. He also wants to expand Social Security benefits.

He supports laws requiring companies to offer paid leave. He notes that many other developed countries have such laws. He also wants to make it easier for workers to join unions. He opposed the bank bailout (TARP). He calls for financial reforms. These include breaking up large financial institutions.

Sanders believes international trade agreements should focus more on labor rights and the environment. He voted against NAFTA and other trade deals. He says these deals have caused American jobs to move overseas. He also opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

He strongly opposes sending American jobs to other countries. He proposed a measure to stop companies from outsourcing jobs. This measure would also protect workers' right to unionize. It was voted down by most senators. Sanders wants the Democratic Party to focus on supporting unions.

Sanders supports worker-owned cooperatives. He has introduced laws to help workers form their own businesses. He believes in workplace democracy. This means workers should have more control over their workplaces. He also supports strengthening labor unions.

Foreign Policy

Sanders wants to reduce military spending. He prefers more diplomacy and international cooperation. He opposed funding rebels in Nicaragua in the 1980s. He opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He has criticized policies from the War on Terror, like mass surveillance.

He criticized Israel's actions in the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. He also criticized U.S. involvement in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. After the 2015 Paris attacks, he warned against Islamophobia. He said the U.S. should welcome Syrian refugees. He criticized the 2020 drone strike that killed an Iranian general. He called it a dangerous step towards war.

Sanders supports Palestinian rights. He has criticized Israel several times. He condemned Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He said it would hurt peace efforts. During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, he criticized both Hamas and Israel. He called for a humanitarian ceasefire.

In a 2017 speech, Sanders outlined his foreign policy. He called for more international teamwork. He also urged the U.S. to stick to agreements like the Paris Agreement. He said military power should be a last resort. He criticized past U.S. support for "murderous regimes." He also criticized Russian interference in U.S. elections.

Gun Laws

Sanders supports closing the "gun show loophole." He wants to ban assault weapons. He also supports universal federal background checks for gun purchases. In 1993, he voted against the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. In 2005, he voted for a law that protected gun makers from lawsuits. However, he later said he would support repealing that law. In 2016, he called for more funding to study gun violence.

Social Issues

Sanders holds liberal views on social issues. He considers himself a feminist. He has long supported LGBT rights. In 2009, he supported legalizing same-sex marriage in Vermont. Sanders has spoken out against institutional racism. He calls for criminal justice reform. He wants to reduce the number of people in prison. He supports ending police brutality. He also wants to abolish private prisons and the death penalty. He supports Black Lives Matter.

He advocates for more citizen participation in democracy. He supports campaign finance reform. He wants to overturn the Citizens United v. FEC court decision.

Trump Administration

Sanders criticized President Trump for appointing billionaires to his cabinet. He also criticized Trump for rolling back environmental protections. He called for caution in the Syrian Civil War. In 2017, he promised to defeat "Trump and Trumpism."

In 2018, Sanders gave a response to Trump's State of the Union address. He called Trump "compulsively dishonest." He criticized Trump for creating an immigration crisis. He also worried about Russia interfering in U.S. elections.

On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. Sanders said Trump would "go down in history as the worst and most dangerous president." Sanders voted to convict Trump in both of his impeachment trials.

Biden Administration

Sanders influenced the environmental policy goals of the Biden administration. Biden's team adopted some of Sanders's climate recommendations.

Sanders strongly supported using a special procedure called budget reconciliation. This helped pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This bill passed the Senate and became law in March 2021.

Sanders continues to influence the Biden administration. He has said it is "a strange experience" to have such influence. He believes his relationship with Biden is based on respect and trust.

Before the 2022 midterm election, Sanders said it would decide the future of democracy and climate change. He felt Democrats needed to better reach young and working-class people. After the election, he said it "went a hell of a lot better than we had anticipated." He pointed to John Fetterman's campaign as a model for Democrats.

In April 2023, Sanders endorsed Biden for the 2024 United States presidential election.

Political Party Affiliations

Sanders grew up in a family that voted Democratic. He first got involved in politics when his brother joined the Young Democrats. Sanders joined Vermont's Liberty Union Party in 1971. He ran for several offices but did not win. He became party chairman but left in 1977 to become an independent.

In 1981, Sanders ran as an independent for mayor of Burlington. He defeated the Democratic mayor. He was reelected three times. As mayor, he supported Democratic presidential candidates like Walter Mondale and Jesse Jackson.

Sanders ran for the U.S. House in 1988 and the U.S. Senate in 2006. In these races, he would win the Democratic primary. Then he would run as an independent in the general election. He continued this strategy through his 2018 Senate reelection. He has always been listed as an independent in Congress. He works with Democrats in both the House and Senate.

For his 2016 presidential campaign, Sanders ran as a Democrat. He said, "Of course I am a Democrat." However, he remained an independent senator. In 2019, he signed a "loyalty pledge" to the Democratic Party for his presidential run. But he also signed paperwork to run as an independent for his Senate seat in 2024.

After Trump's 2016 victory, Sanders suggested the Democratic Party change. He wanted it to become a "grass-roots party of working people." He compared his campaign to the Labour Party in the UK. He urged Democrats to move away from a "cautious, centrist ideology." Sanders is one of two independent senators. Both work with the Democrats.

Personal Life

In 1963, Sanders volunteered on an Israeli kibbutz with his first wife, Deborah Shiling Messing. They married in 1964 and divorced in 1966. They had no children. His son, Levi Sanders, was born in 1969 to his girlfriend at the time, Susan Campbell Mott.

On May 28, 1988, Sanders married Jane O'Meara Driscoll. She later became president of Burlington College. The day after their wedding, they visited the Soviet Union. They own homes in Capitol Hill, Burlington, and North Hero. Sanders considers Jane's three children his own.

Sanders's older brother, Larry, lives in England. He was a Green Party county councilor. Bernie Sanders has said he owes his brother a lot. His brother introduced him to many of his ideas.

Health

On October 1, 2019, Sanders was hospitalized in Las Vegas. He had chest pains during a campaign event. Doctors found a blockage in a heart artery. They inserted two stents. He was diagnosed with a heart attack. He was released from the hospital a few days later.

Sanders later said he had felt tired and had chest discomfort for a month or two. He regretted not seeking medical help sooner. He said, "I was dumb."

Sanders appeared at a Democratic debate on October 15. He said, "I'm healthy, I'm feeling great." In December 2019, his doctors released letters. They stated Sanders was healthy and had recovered from his heart condition.

Honors and Awards

On December 4, 2015, Sanders won Time magazine's 2015 Person of the Year readers' poll. He did not receive the official award. On March 20, 2016, he was given an honorary Lushootseed name, dxʷshudičup. This means 'the one lighting the fires for change and unity.'

On May 30, 2017, Sanders received an honorary degree from Brooklyn College.

Religion and Values

Sanders describes his upbringing as an American Jew. His father went to synagogue mostly on Yom Kippur. Sanders went to public schools and a Hebrew school. Their religious practices were mainly Passover seders. His brother said their parents were happy to be Jewish but did not strongly believe in God. Bernie had a bar mitzvah.

In 1963, Sanders volunteered at a kibbutz in Israel. His reasons were both socialistic and Zionistic.

As mayor of Burlington, Sanders allowed a Chabad public menorah at city hall. He publicly lit the Hanukkah menorah. He also performed the Jewish blessing for Hanukkah candles. His support helped public menorah celebrations become widespread. Sanders has said he is "proud to be Jewish."

Sanders rarely talks about religion. He calls himself "not particularly religious." He says he believes in God, but not in a traditional way. He believes "all of us are connected." In 2015, he said his spirituality means "we're all in this together." He believes people should not ignore the suffering of others. He also said, "we can't just worship billionaires."

Sanders does not regularly attend synagogue. He has attended memorial services for friends. His wife is Roman Catholic. He often expresses admiration for Pope Francis. He feels close to Francis's economic teachings. In 2016, he spoke at a Vatican conference. He met briefly with Francis there.

See also

In Spanish: Bernie Sanders para niños