Archive · 20 May 2025
Sanders Says Democrats Abandoned Norms Before Trump
Bernie Sanders explained that the Democratic party stopped following its own rules before Donald Trump came along.
He pointed to the 2016 election when he ran for president, but felt the party was helping Hillary Clinton win instead.
He said the party used special people called superdelegates who could vote for whoever they wanted and that the party seemed to favor Clinton.
Also, the party did not allow as many debates and didn't give Sanders as much media coverage.
Finally, fundraising was set up in a way that seemed to help Clinton's campaign more than others.
Bernie Sanders stated the Democratic Party abandoned democratic norms before Trump.
Sanders cited the 2016 primary, where he felt outmaneuvered by the party establishment.
Superdelegates and DNC emails were cited as evidence of internal bias.
Limited debates and media coverage favored Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Fundraising structures favored Clinton's campaign over state organizations.
- Who
- Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Party
- What
- Sanders stated the Democratic Party had abandoned democratic norms.
- When
- Before and during the 2016 primary
- Where
- Primarily in the U.S.
- Why
- To examine the decline of democratic processes within the Democratic party.
Democratic Party Establishment's View
Sanders' Perspective
Fairness of Primaries
Democratic Party Establishment's View
The Democratic party believed their process to be fair
Sanders' Perspective
The Democratic party has not been conducting fair primaries since 2008.
DNC Bias
Democratic Party Establishment's View
The DNC denied the presence of bias within the organization.
Sanders' Perspective
Internal DNC emails revealed bias against Sanders.
Campaign Financing
Democratic Party Establishment's View
The Clinton campaign and DNC fundraising was legitimate.
Sanders' Perspective
Fundraising favored the Clinton campaign.
- Bernie Sanders
- U.S. Senator
- Key Event
- 2016 Democratic Primary
- Beneficiary of alleged bias
- Hillary Clinton
- Superdelegates
- Unelected Party Insiders
- DNC Emails
- Undermining Sanders' campaign
