Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator from Vermont
Bernard Sanders was born in September 1941 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. He studied at Brooklyn College before transferring to the University of Chicago where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science. He quickly became a political activist, joining the Young People’s Socialist League and numerous other groups.
He became involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. He worked with union organizers and on the campaigns of many politicians. He returned to New York City, working at various jobs including Head Start teacher, psychiatric aide, and carpenter. He moved to Vermont and began his political career. Sanders served for eight years as the mayor of Burlington. He was elected as the representative-at-large for Vermont to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1991. He has served as a member of the United States Senate since 2007.
He was a candidate for the presidency more than once, most recently in the 2016 and 2020 campaigns, calling himself a “democratic socialist.”
He has been married twice, first to Deborah Messing with whom he had no children. He later had a son, Levi, born to his girlfriend, Susan Campbell Mott. He married Jane O’Meara Driscoll, by whom he has three stepchildren. He has seven grandchildren. He is Jewish.
In the News…
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders warned President Biden and Senator Joe Manchin along with others that he will not support a bipartisan infrastructure bill that does not include a provision for reconciliation of a larger bill.
“Let me be clear: There will not be a bipartisan infrastructure deal without a reconciliation bill that substantially improves the lives of working families and combats the existential threat of climate change,” Senator Sanders stated on social media. “No reconciliation bill, no deal. We need transformative change NOW.”
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Senator Sanders today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Bernie Sanders
Senator from Vermont
322 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
