The rising political tensions in the US might get people wondering, can Bernie Sanders win California? 

Recent years have created a massive shift between Democratic and Republican States, so it is hard to know which candidates will excel in their States.

Bernie Sanders has had a long career spanning nearly three decades with numerous achievements and elections. 

But what effect has he had on the political climate, and will the Californians look at him favorably? Here is all the information to help clear this up;

Can Bernie Sanders Win California?

Bernie Sanders can win California, and he has done it before. Bernie is an Independent candidate, but he has always had a Democratic inclination, and most of his policies are progressive. 

He was officially with the Democrats for a few years, between 2015 and 2020. California is a Democratic party stronghold, so it makes sense that most people will resonate with Bernie Sanders, which gives him a chance at winning California.

Learning More About Bernie Sanders 

Bernie Sanders has had a long and fruitful career in US politics, and most people don’t know nearly enough about him. He grew famous as a former Presidential Candidate, but there is still so much to learn about this outstanding individual.

Bernie Sanders is an American New Yorker born in 1941 and raised in Brooklyn. He went to Madison High School and then joined Brooklyn College before completing his education at the University of Chicago.

He graduated in 1964 and relocated to Vermont in 1981, where he would begin his political career. He was elected mayor of Burlington with ten votes and held the office for four terms.

Sanders was a lecturer at the John F Kennedy School Of Government and the Hamilton College in New York. He dropped these jobs and was elected to Congress for Vermont in 1990.

Bernie Sanders won his US Senate reelection in 2018 and served his third term. He has been in the House of Representatives for 16 years, which makes him the longest-serving member of the House in history.

Most American politics specialists view Sanders as a successful and practical legislator, and his tenure reflects this. He has focused on reducing the middle class and growing wealth for Americans.

He also promotes bridging the wealth gap in the US and supports better pay and care for employees. Sanders was the Chairman of the Senate Committee for Veterans Affairs in 2014. Through this office, he passed laws to reform the healthcare system for Veterans.

He got many new implementations that helped veterans integrate into society and live comfortably. Sanders is still on the Veterans Committee and has picked up other roles. He is also chairman of the Senate  Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP)

Sanders also has a seat in the Environment and Public Works committee. He focuses on improving the crumbling American infrastructure and tackling global warming concerns. These have always been matters ear to him and his committee seat allowed him to push them.

His role in managing global warming got him on the Energy and Natural Resources committee. Through this, he advocates for transforming the American energy system from fossil fuels to more sustainable solutions like wind and solar.

Finally, Bernie is a member of the Senate Budget Committee and chaired it last Congress. These positions showcase his commitment to the American people and his political positions. His nearly 3-decade long career has made a significant impact on any American.

Bonus Read: Has Nancy Pelosi Retired?

Bernie Sanders’ Political Positions

Politicians are defined by their political parties and positions on various social, financial, and political issues. Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist and a left-wing populist who looks up to the democratic programs in Europe.

Bernie openly supports worker cooperatives, public enterprises, and workplace democracy. He also advocates for parental leave, free higher education, and single-payer healthcare. Here are his positions on some of the most significant topics in the US;

1. Climate Change

Bernie Sanders views climate change as a major concern and has pushed for bold measures to help reverse its effects on the environment. He advocates for creating environmentally sustainable infrastructure to create jobs while maintaining the environment.

According to Bernie Sanders, climate change is the greatest threat to national security, and he has suggested that family planning can help fight climate change. This will involve the management of the population to reduce the strain of resources from nature.

He was against creating the Dakota Access pipeline since he believed it would significantly impact the environment. He supported the Green New Deal legislation in 2019. 

He also joined Earl Blumenauer and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to propose legislation declaring climate change an international emergency.

2. US Foreign Policy

Bernie Sanders is all for reducing US military presence in foreign countries. He has encouraged using international cooperation and diplomacy rather than the army. He went into the headlines when he opposed the funding of Nicaraguan rebels.

The Nicaraguan government was leftist, and so the CIA was arming the rebel’s covert war to overthrow the government. Bernie was also against the invasion of Iraq, and he was among the people who pushed for the withdrawal of American forces from the region.

He criticized the policies instituted by the government in the wake of 9-11 during the War on Terror. He was particularly against the USA Patriot Act and Mass Surveillance programs that would hurt the right to privacy for Americans.

Sanders criticized US involvement in the Saudi-Yemen conflicts and cautioned Americans against Islamophobia following ISIL’s attacks in Paris. He maintained that the US should continue to welcome Syrian refugees displaced by the war.

Sanders speaks for Palestinian rights, and he has rebuked Israel severally. During the Hamas attacks, he condemned the attack on civilians and criticized Israel for bombing civilian targets in Gaza.

3. Gun Laws 

Bernie Sanders has had differing stances on gun control over the years. He is a supporter of banning assault weapons and pushes for federal background checks before gun purchases.

Most people believe he owes his victory in the 1990 bid to become US Representative to the NRA. This is because the NRA withdrew its support for Sanders’ competitor, Peter Smith, who had changed his stance on gun restrictions and waiting periods.

While he was a US Representative, Bernie Sanders voted against the Brandy Handgun Violence Prevention Act. The legislation was to establish waiting periods and background checks before the purchase of firearms.

In 2005, Sanders supported legislation that gave gun manufacturers immunity in cases involving negligence with owners. He changed his stand and started working to repeal the law in 2016.

Another change of heart with Sanders was regarding funding for the CDC. He voted against giving the CDC more funding to research on firearm-related issues back in 1996. He changed his opinion, and in 2016, he pushed for more CDC funding to research gun violence.

4. Economic Issues 

Bernie Sanders has focused chiefly on many economic issues during his tenure. He advocated for equal pay regardless of gender or race. He also pushed for an increase in minimum wage to ensure that all Americans can earn a good enough living.

He also advocated for universal healthcare, and he was a supporter of the ACA during Barrack Obama’s time as president. He noted his support for the program and said it should have gone further to help Americans.

Sanders has also suggested, on several occasions, that the government should cancel all student debt to give people a better shot at success. He supported the expansion of social security benefits and free University education by taxing financial transactions.

Bernie is against outsourcing jobs by American companies to other countries like China that can offer cheaper labor. He also wanted companies to allow their employees to unionize so that they could look out for their best interests.

5. Social Issues

Sanders has maintained a liberal stance on most social issues. He is a feminist who has been at the forefront of the fight for gender equality for a long. He is pro-choice and has stood against the defunding of Planned Parenthood clinics.

Sanders has been an avid fighter for LGBT rights, and he advocated for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Vermont in 2009. He has called for justice reforms to cut down the number of prisoners in the US.

He has also pushed for the abolishment of private prisons and fought against police brutality. He is for the federal legalization of Marijuana and more democratic participation by American citizens. 

Conclusion

If you were wondering, “Can Bernie Sanders win California?” your question was answered in the 2020 Primaries. Sanders beat Joe Biden in the primaries as he garnered 36% of the votes, a little over 2 million votes, and California helped in this victory.

He is now an independent candidate, but his former relations with the Democrats give him an excellent platform to get Californians. He has had a 3-decade long career with many legislation and legacies. His role in pushing for equality and social awareness has made him outstanding.