Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, used a Sunday appearance on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” to spotlight the momentum building behind progressive candidates as the 2026 midterm elections begin to take shape.
Sanders argued that the growing support for those contenders reflects a surge of “grassroots excitement and enthusiasm” and points to a broader national appetite for political change.
“Whether it’s Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, or anyplace else in this country … the polling indicates this, the people are sick and tired of the status quo,” Sanders said.
Among the candidates he highlighted were Michigan U.S. Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed and Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who is also seeking a Senate seat. Both candidates are heading toward closely watched August primaries that could test the strength of the progressive wing of the Democratic coalition.
While Sanders sounded upbeat about their prospects, he also warned that enormous outside spending could shape the outcome. He accused “the billionaire class” of pouring “unbelievable amounts of money” into major contests in an effort to “protect the establishment candidates,” pointing not only to the Michigan and Minnesota Senate races but also to the competitive race in Maine.
“Whether we could overcome that (spending) remains to be seen,” Sanders said, citing super PACs in Michigan that he said are putting $50 million toward efforts against El-Sayed. El-Sayed is running against moderate Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, who has represented Michigan’s 11th Congressional District since 2019. In Minnesota, Flanagan is part of a Democratic field that includes Rep. Angie Craig, with candidates competing for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith.
Progressive activists and some Sanders-aligned voters — sometimes labeled “Bernie Bros” by critics — have faced accusations in past election cycles of dividing the Democrat base by backing left-wing candidates who struggle to win broader general election support, potentially opening the door for Republicans. Democrat Rahm Emanuel recently cautioned in an op-ed that Democrats could face a similar problem in the 2026 midterms. Asked about that criticism, Sanders pushed back, saying the success and rising popularity of progressive candidates show that many voters are looking for a different direction.
“There’s no debate — there is a strong division within the Democratic Party,” Sanders said. “What is getting these guys, we are winning all over this country. … People are sick and tired of the Rahm Emanuels and Democratic establishment and Republican establishment.”
Sanders also said he thinks working-class Republican voters may be swayed by progressive candidates.
“They can’t afford to send their kids to college. They can’t afford decent retirements. More than a few of them, by the way, will be voting for Peggy Flanagan (for Senate in Minnesota) and Abdul in Michigan,” Sanders predicted.
Sanders also addressed the Senate race in Maine, where state Democrats just selected Troy Jackson to replace progressive Graham Platner on the ballot. Platner suspended his campaign after a sexual assault allegation, ending a Senate bid that had already weathered other personal controversies. Asked by Brennan if he regretted supporting Platner, Sanders said he did not.
He said that when he heard the allegation, “I wanted to get on the phone. I wanted to talk to him.”
Sanders continued, “I asked, along with virtually all (of) his supporters, that he should get out of the race — that he did.”
Brennan asked whether Sanders was confident that the other candidates he is backing have been fully vetted.
“I don’t know who has been ‘fully vetted,'” he replied, adding, “All I know is, Margaret, the candidates that we are supporting are standing up for the working class of this country.”
Sanders said he believes that despite the shorter window left before Election Day, Jackson can make up ground with voters.
“I think he stands an excellent chance to win,” Sanders said.
“I’ve known Troy for many years. What he understands is that the people of Maine are sick and tired of a rigged economy in which the billionaire class is getting richer and richer, where we have more income and wealth inequality today than we’ve ever had in the history of this country, while 60% of our people, including in Maine, Vermont, all over this country, are living paycheck to paycheck,” Sanders said.
