Bernie Sanders’ endorsed candidates swept primary elections across the country on Tuesday, led by a resounding victory for Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who defeated Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and other challengers to secure the Democratic nomination for a general election matchup against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Platner, an oyster farmer and combat veteran, won the Maine Democratic primary despite days of turmoil over past personal conduct controversies. Sanders stood vocally by Platner through the closing stretch, and his support appeared to bolster the progressive candidate through the final stretch. Platner’s victory came with a wide margin, according to multiple outlets reporting on the race.
The Maine win was part of a broader sweep. Sanders-backed candidates prevailed across several states on Tuesday: Adam Hamawy won the Democratic primary in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District; Rep. Analilia Mejia easily defeated primary challengers in New Jersey’s 11th District by garnering more than 80 percent of the vote; and political scientist Randy Villegas advanced to a runoff in California’s 22nd Congressional District, currently held by Republican Rep. David Valadao. Other recent Sanders-endorsed victories include former smokejumper and union leader Sam Forstag in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, Brian Poindexter in Ohio, and Bob Brooks in Pennsylvania.
Sanders’ campaign strategy reflects a deliberate approach to electoral influence. In an interview with The New York Times last month, Sanders explained that his goal with the endorsements is “building a movement for the future” capable of not just taking on President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, but also the Democratic Party establishment. “Our effort is to lead a national movement against Trump’s authoritarianism and kleptocracy and unnecessary wars and his contempt for the Constitution,” Sanders told the Times. “But equally important, the American people need an alternative to the Democratic establishment, which is significantly dominated by big-money interests.”
Joseph Geevarghese, the executive director of Sanders-founded Our Revolution, attributed the wins to a broader shift in voter sentiment. “The movement that [Sanders] started in 2016 continued into 2020 and remains a powerful force in electoral politics. And I think it’s growing stronger,” Geevarghese said on Tuesday. He added that the victories are “proof points that progressives are not just viable in deep-blue districts, but they’re viable and competitive in much more centrist districts.”
The senator’s influence contrasts with mixed results from earlier endorsement efforts. While Sanders’ 2018 endorsements faced notable losses, his 2026 slate has demonstrated stronger success, suggesting a shift in how progressive endorsements translate to electoral wins. The Vermont senator, now 84, continues to demonstrate significant political sway in Democratic primary races, with his endorsements helping propel lesser-known candidates to major victories this cycle.
Sources
- Politico — Sanders-endorsed primary victories on Tuesday, including Platner’s Maine win and other House candidates; Joseph Geevarghese quote on progressive movement strength
- WBUR — Platner’s Maine Democratic primary victory and general election matchup against Collins; candidate background and controversies
- In These Times — Multiple Sanders-endorsed candidates prevailing in primaries, including Hamawy, Mejia, Villegas, and Forstag; Sanders’ movement-building strategy
- The New York Times — Sanders’ interview on endorsement strategy and building an alternative to the Democratic establishment
