WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris for what he described as billionaire influence over her 2024 presidential campaign, arguing it weakened her connection to working-class voters and contributed to her loss to President Donald Trump.
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“The key to Democratic victories is to stand unequivocally with the working class of this country,” Sanders said during his “fighting oligarchy” tour.
Speaking at a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia, on Aug. 8, Sanders said Harris had “too many billionaires telling her not to speak up for the working class.” The event was part of his nationwide effort to mobilize voters against the Trump administration’s policies, which he argues favor the wealthy.
Sanders’ Remarks and Context
In a follow-up interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Dana Bash, Sanders described Harris as a friend but said her “core consultants were heavily influenced by very wealthy people.” He pointed to an October 2024 analysis by Forbes showing that more billionaires supported Harris than Trump, including high-profile names such as film director Steven Spielberg, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Laurene Powell Jobs, and philanthropist Melinda French Gates.
“How do you run for president and not develop a strong agenda which speaks to the economic crisis facing working families?” Sanders asked, noting that many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and citing what he called a “broken” healthcare system.
Harris’ Campaign Approach
Bash noted that Harris had discussed affordability issues during her campaign. Sanders responded that her stance was “vague” and lacked the forceful, detailed proposals needed to energize voters concerned about wages, housing costs, and healthcare. He declined to revisit the full campaign debate but emphasized that the Democratic Party must craft a platform that “speaks to the needs of working people” if it hopes to win future elections.
Looking Ahead for Harris
Harris, who served as vice president under President Joe Biden, confirmed on July 30 that she would not run for California governor in 2026. The decision leaves open the possibility of a 2028 presidential bid.
While Sanders’ comments drew attention from political analysts and progressive activists, Harris has not publicly responded to his latest critique. Her campaign in 2024 was noted for high-profile endorsements and significant fundraising from wealthy donors, which her team argued was necessary to compete against Trump’s political operation.
Sanders, meanwhile, continues his “fighting oligarchy” tour across multiple states, framing his message as a call for structural change in campaign finance and a realignment of the Democratic Party’s priorities toward labor rights, universal healthcare, and economic equity.