How AOC and Bernie Sanders Built Their Progressive Alliance / Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have become iconic figures in the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. Their political alliance began in grassroots activism and has evolved into a powerful partnership shaping policy, mobilizing voters, and challenging the Democratic establishment.
Sanders and AOC’s Political Bond: Quick Looks
- Sanders and AOC’s alliance began with her volunteering for his 2016 campaign.
- AOC rose to prominence after her 2018 upset primary win over Rep. Joe Crowley.
- In 2019, she gave a crucial endorsement to Sanders during his second presidential bid.
- AOC’s Green New Deal became a centerpiece of their shared progressive vision.
- They continued joint appearances post-2020 and campaigned for Harris in 2024.
- In 2025, they reunited for the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour post-Trump re-election.
- Sanders has not named a successor, but he calls AOC his “political family.”
Deep Look: How Bernie Sanders and AOC Became the Progressive Duo of a Generation
WASHINGTON — They may not hold the highest-ranking posts in Congress, but Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are arguably the most recognizable and influential voices of the American left.
Their alliance — built on shared economic ideals and political courage — has come to symbolize a generational movement within the Democratic Party, even as it often challenges the party’s own establishment.
According to a recent AP-NORC poll, roughly 75% of Democrats view Sanders favorably, while 50% view AOC positively — a gap largely due to name recognition, not disapproval.
Their popularity, and especially their deep bond, has carried a progressive message into the mainstream of American politics.
2018: From Volunteer to Victory
Ocasio-Cortez’s political journey began as a Sanders volunteer in 2016, organizing in the Bronx during his first presidential campaign. After that run ended, she returned home and, backed by progressive groups like Justice Democrats, launched a long-shot bid for Congress.
In June 2018, she shocked the political world by defeating longtime incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley, a member of the House Democratic leadership.
Sanders quickly endorsed her, and the two appeared together in Kansas soon after. Their joint media appearances and rallies signaled the start of a political partnership built on mutual ideals and outsider status.
“Two years ago, we were both in St. Mary’s Park in the South Bronx… Now we’re pushing that revolution in Kansas,” AOC said during a joint rally.
2019–2020: A Key Endorsement and the Green New Deal
By early 2019, AOC was already shaking up Washington. She introduced the Green New Deal, a sweeping — and controversial — nonbinding resolution calling for a fossil-free economy, universal health care, and job guarantees.
While it became a Republican talking point, it also cemented AOC’s place as a progressive leader — and deepened her connection with Sanders.
When Sanders needed a boost in late 2019, AOC provided it. He had just suffered a heart attack, and his campaign was losing momentum. AOC’s endorsement at a Bronx rally helped reenergize his base. She later campaigned with him in Iowa and New Hampshire and seconded his nomination at the 2020 DNC.
Though she hesitated initially — as chronicled in the book The Truce — her eventual support proved pivotal.
2023–2024: Supporting the Ticket, Building the Bench
After Sanders lost the nomination in 2020, the two continued to work together on issues like pandemic relief, union rights, and climate action. By 2024, with President Biden stepping aside, they both threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Together, they rallied progressives to unite behind Harris, with the understanding that defeating Trump was the top priority — even if it meant moderating some policy ambitions.
2025: Reuniting Against Oligarchy
Following Trump’s return to the White House, many Democrats were left stunned. Sanders responded with a nationwide “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, meant to realign the Democratic Party with working-class concerns and progressive principles.
After several solo appearances, Sanders invited AOC to join the tour. At a rally in Tempe, Arizona, AOC spoke about watching Sanders on TV while working as a waitress and feeling, for the first time, that someone in politics spoke directly to people like her.
“This isn’t something we should earn — this is something we deserve because we’re human,” she told the crowd.
In Salt Lake City, Sanders introduced her affectionately as “my daughter,” a nod to their enduring closeness and shared mission.
“She saw a society that was fundamentally unjust… and she stood up,” he said. “That’s what this movement is all about.”
What’s Next?
Sanders has not explicitly named a successor but has said he will not run for president again in 2028, when he will be 87. Many see AOC as the natural heir to his movement, although she has not publicly confirmed any future plans.
Still, their partnership continues to inspire younger voters, grassroots movements, and progressive candidates. Despite pushback from moderates and Republicans who paint them as radical, Sanders and AOC remain a core force within the Democratic Party.
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