Before Bernie or AOC: Socialism is Not New to America
Eugene V. Debs, who ran in the 1912 presidential election for the Socialist Party and received nearly one million votes, illuminating a strong presence of socialism within America’s borders.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was a popular Democratic candidate in the past two presidential elections, as he grappled the frontrunner spot at one point in the 2020 race against now President-elect Joe Biden, despite touting the label of being a Democratic Socialist.
Sanders has guided a modern American socialism movement, as dozens of members of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) were elected into state and local government positions in the 2018 midterm elections, along with Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.). Although Sanders doesn’t represent DSA, he has embraced democratic socialism ideals that back widespread, taxpayer-funded government programs like Medicare For All.