Bernie Sanders is an American politician serving as the senior U.S. Senator from Vermont since 2007. He is the longest-serving independent member of Congress in U.S. history. Sanders was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 8, 1941, and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1964. He moved to Vermont in 1968 and was elected Mayor of Burlington in 1981, serving four terms. Before becoming a Senator, he served as Vermont's sole U.S. Representative from 1991 to 2007.
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, is known for his focus on reducing income and wealth inequality, expanding social programs, and advocating for workers' rights. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, gaining significant grassroots support. As of February 2026, he is the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and also serves on the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. In February 2026, Sanders announced an investigation into Trump's corporate welfare for Walmart and wealthy corporations and is scheduled to meet with AI leaders in California.