General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBottom Line, from Bernie Sanders.
cross-posted from The Way Forward.

Emphasis mine.
The TLDR:
Bottom line: all across the country, in a variety of forms, the American people are FIGHTING BACK.
We build a stronger and stronger multigenerational, multiracial working-class movement. We transform the Democratic Party into a party of the working class, not one dominated by wealthy campaign contributors.
👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆👆
Sisters and Brothers -
At a time of great political and economic anxiety, we need some good news. Well, I have some good news.
On Tuesday night, Brian Poindexter, an ironworker and union leader, won a landslide victory in a Democratic congressional primary over establishment candidates in the Ohios 7th Congressional District. We helped make that happen. I was proud to stand with Brian at a well-attended rally last Friday, and many of you contributed to his campaign.
Several weeks ago, the establishment candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine, Governor Janet Mills, dropped out of the race. Polls showed that she was far behind the progressive candidate, Graham Platner, a candidate I and many of you are supporting. Graham is running an extraordinary grassroots campaign talking about the real issues facing Americas working class.
Last month, Analilia Mejía, a labor organizer and grassroots activist, won a strong victory over her Republican opponent in a special election in a so-called purple congressional district in New Jersey. I campaigned with her in New Jersey. Many of you helped out as well.
On March 28th, over 8 million Americans came out for No Kings rallies in every state across the country. That was the largest day of demonstrations in the history of the United States, as people protested the authoritarianism, oligarchy and kleptocracy of the Trump administration.
Recently, the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West and other unions in California submitted over 1.5 million signatures to get a Billionaire Wealth Tax on the ballot. This proposal, if approved, would raise enough money to make certain that millions of Californians do not lose their healthcare and nutrition assistance as a result of Trumps disastrous Big Beautiful Bill. Despite ferocious opposition from some of the wealthiest people in the state, polls suggest that the proposal is extremely popular.
All across the country - in blue states, red states and purple states - working people are resisting the construction of Artificial Intelligence data centers being built by Big Tech Oligarchs like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. They are opposing the higher electric bills and environmental degradation caused by these huge facilities and are increasingly concerned about the potential long-term negative impacts of an uncontrolled AI pushed by the richest people in the world.
Last November, Zohran Mamdani took on the entire Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, the President of the United States and the oligarchs of New York to win a resounding victory in our countrys largest city. Close to 100,000 people volunteered on the campaign - an unprecedented number.
Bottom line: all across the country, in a variety of forms, the American people are FIGHTING BACK.
They are fighting back because they are sick and tired of Trumpism and all its ugly manifestations. They are sick and tired of the billionaire class becoming richer and more powerful, while working families struggle to put food on the table. They are sick and tired of a dysfunctional health care system where tens of thousands die unnecessarily each year because they cannot afford to walk into a doctors office. They are sick and tired of paying 40% or 50% of their limited incomes on housing. They are sick and tired of the U.S. government spending billions on unnecessary and horrific wars while ignoring the unmet needs of working people here at home.
And they are sick and tired of a corrupt political system dominated by the campaign contributions of greedy and self-serving billionaires and their super PACs.
Donald Trumps poll numbers are extremely low and plummeting fast, but the Democrats are not doing much better. Why is that? In my view, the answer is not complicated. The American people no longer support status quo politics and policies that tinker around the edges. They want a government that stands with working families and is prepared to take on the greed and arrogance of the billionaire class. They want REAL CHANGE.
And that is NOT what the Democratic Establishment is about: not on campaign finance reform, not on health care, not on taxing billionaires, not on the dangers of AI, not on climate change, not on military spending, not on foreign policy and Israel and not on many, many other issues.
So. What do we do? We keep doing what were doing - successfully. We lead the fight against Trump and his fellow oligarchs. We build a stronger and stronger multigenerational, multiracial working-class movement. We transform the Democratic Party into a party of the working class, not one dominated by wealthy campaign contributors.
All of this is hard work but, together, we must keep pushing forward. There is no choice. As you well know, this struggle is not just about us. Its about our kids, grandchildren and future generations. Its about making sure that the planet and humanity survive climate change and AI. Its about making sure that every person in our country can live in peace, dignity and security.
Thanks for all you are doing.
Lets go forward together.
In Solidarity,
Bernie Sanders
https://berniesanders.com/
Hassin Bin Sober
(27,492 posts)RandySF
(85,786 posts)if so many people hadnt listened to him.
Response to RandySF (Reply #3)
Rob H. This message was self-deleted by its author.
SocialDemocrat61
(7,962 posts)I agree.
RandySF
(85,786 posts)W_HAMILTON
(10,424 posts)
sheshe2
(98,248 posts)Bernie said:
Democrats are:
Overview of 2026 Special Election Victories
Democrats have continued their strong performance in early 2026 special elections, building on momentum from 2025. Key victories include:
Minnesota State House: Shelley Buck and Meg Luger-Nikolai won in districts 47A and 64A, restoring the State House to a 67-67 split.
1
New York State Senate: Jeremy Zellner won the 61st District seat vacated by Sean Ryan.
1
Texas State Senate: Taylor Rehmet defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss in District 9, a district Trump carried by 17 points in 2024.
1
Arkansas House District 70: Alex Holladay flipped a Republican seat by 15 points.
2
New Hampshire House Carroll 7: Bobbi Boudman won by four points, flipping a seat previously held by Republicans.
1
In total, Democrats have gained 10 legislative seats nationwide through special elections since January 2025, with several of these victories occurring in early 2026. These wins include flips in traditionally Republican districts, signaling strong Democratic performance ahead of the midterms.
3
3 Sources
Implications
These victories have not only increased Democratic representation in state legislatures but also serve as an early indicator of potential trends for the 2026 midterm elections. Analysts note that Democrats ability to flip Republican-held seats in special elections may reflect high voter engagement and could influence strategies for both parties in upcoming contests.
Newsweek
https://www.bing.com/search?q=List+of+all+the+special+elections+Democrats+have+won+2026&form=ANNTH1&refig=69fd5cc58f95456fbfb523a084573a7a&pc=LCTS
.................................................................
Rob H.
(5,895 posts)sheshe2
(98,248 posts)Current ones, where they are plummeting?
TY in advance.
Uncle Joe
(65,443 posts)Thanks for the thread usonian
calimary
(90,601 posts)Starting with:
"a Billionaire Wealth Tax on the ballot. This proposal, if approved, would raise enough money to make certain that millions of Californians do not lose their healthcare and nutrition assistance as a result of Trumps disastrous 'Big Beautiful Bill.' Despite ferocious opposition from some of the wealthiest people in the state, polls suggest that the proposal is extremely popular."
That's what California is doing. What else is going on out there?
usonian
(26,380 posts)Just got my ballot in the mail.
Will update as things develop.
Billionaires are fleeing the state, taking their (less than fair share) income tax money with them, but (surprise) leaving jobs here, because the state has a fabulous talent pool.
betsuni
(29,244 posts)Democrats are not corrupted by campaign contributions. Trump had more small donors in 2016 than Sanders and Hillary combined and that didn't uncorrupt him. Teddy Roosevelt was right: If money is freely and legally given in whatever amount, take it.
Democratic policies help the working/middle classes. Sanders said 2016 was "The most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party" and compared President Biden to FDR.
Bottom line is that the only opposition party is the Republican Party.
biocube
(252 posts)I was listening to Ken Klippenstein interview Graham Platner and he was talking about people from the Democratic party threatening the careers of his campaign staffers and telling him (Platner) they'd ruin his life. Not the first story I've heard.
God forbid anyone dares say what Democrats aren't doing is working and we must change strategies.
I don't understand why some people are so opppsed to Bernie's class first strategy. Things like Medicare for All, Paid Family Leave and Vacation time are all very popular. Especially when (let's ne honest) a majority of Americans aren't on the same side of the culture war as Democrats.
usonian
(26,380 posts)
REAL popular appeal was owned by Democrats for reasons similar to my post of May 2023. (below)
And that appeal shows in the crowds drawn by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez all over, and especially in red states. Not to mention recent victories which were thought impossible by the shrimp-cocktail eaters dragging us down.

NO
YES
Watch out for weak stances on AI "Data Concentration Camps"
Why I am a Democrat.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217954571
Because Democrats have compassion for others.
When every person
a. is guaranteed rights, opportunity, and equity,
b. can make a good living,
c. is respected,
then all benefit and the nation benefits.
Government invests in its citizens.
Labor and innovation create wealth.
Productivity gains are shared with those who are less blessed than others.
Government is by the people and for the people.
The legal system protects rights, especially of minorities.
WhiskeyGrinder
(27,178 posts)consideration that race and gender are also classes and assumes that if everyone is making enough money to live, systemic oppressions will disappear, when that is simply not the case.
biocube
(252 posts)But even in the year George Floyd was killed Trump gained support from PoC in 2020 and in 2024 gained even more.
Plus we kept hearing an army of angry women would show up in 2024 to put Kamala over the top. Didn't happen.
WhiskeyGrinder
(27,178 posts)strategy is not a good one, fwiw. But the main weakness is the white people targeted by it, because there are too many who realize that "Medicare for all" means "yes, even Black people" or "yes, even the meth mom using SNAP to buy steaks right in front of you at the grocery store" and suddenly decide they don't want Medicare for themselves. Class-first is always wondering why "people vote against their own interests." It's because they're not paying attention to what those interests are.
SocialDemocrat61
(7,962 posts)
Response to usonian (Original post)
Post removed