SouthernWorldwide.com – Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, is facing significant criticism for his endorsements of several controversial candidates, including former Senate candidate Graham Platner, as a pattern of backing “radical, dark horse” figures emerges.
Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist and has described his movement as a “revolution,” was a prominent supporter of Platner. He had pledged to “do everything I can to make sure that Graham Platner is the next senator from the state of Maine” and actively participated in campaign events, promoting Platner on social media.
This strong backing continued despite mounting scandals surrounding Platner’s past. However, the situation shifted dramatically following a Politico report published on Monday. The report detailed allegations of sexual assault against Platner, claiming he raped his then-girlfriend in 2021.
Less than 24 hours after the bombshell report, Sanders joined many of his Democratic colleagues in calling for Platner to withdraw from the race. This marks a significant turn from his earlier staunch support.
Rachel Bade, a political commentator and seasoned reporter, views this episode as a critical test of Sanders’ continued influence within the Democratic Party. She suggests that the Platner situation, while significant, is part of a larger trend.
“The Graham Platner fiasco was bad, yes. But now, some Dems are tallying up everywhere else Sanders and his orbit bet wrong this cycle, raising questions about their judgment in elevating untested, unvetted candidates with skeletons nobody bothered to check for,” Bade stated in a post to X.
The criticism extends beyond Platner, as Sanders has endorsed other candidates who have faced controversy due to troubling aspects of their past. These endorsements are now being scrutinized by fellow Democrats and political observers.
Adam Hamawy, a candidate who received Sanders’ endorsement, has past ties to a convicted terrorist connected to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Hamawy, who won a Democratic primary, had referred to Sanders as one of the party’s “bold leaders.” The convicted terrorist, Sheikh Abdel-Rahman, known as the “Blind Sheikh,” died in prison in 2017.
Another endorsed candidate, Melat Kiros, a socialist newcomer in Colorado, defeated a long-serving incumbent with Sanders’ backing. Kiros had previously asserted that American foreign policy made the 9/11 terror attacks “inevitable.” Sanders had endorsed her, predicting she would be a “great ally in Congress fighting for a progressive agenda.”
Randy Villegas, a congressional candidate in California also supported by Sanders, is facing scrutiny for his past vote to approve confidential settlements related to child sex-abuse cases from decades ago, which he did as a teacher. Sanders had publicly supported Villegas, stating, “We must do everything we can to elect new, bold leaders like Randy who will be a champion for working Americans in Congress.”
Furthermore, Sanders is backing Cori Bush, a member of the progressive “Squad,” who has faced criticism for paying her husband with campaign funds and for her strong advocacy to “defund the police.” Bush is currently seeking re-election to the House of Representatives.
For some Democrats, this pattern of endorsements is becoming increasingly frustrating and, in light of the Platner controversy, appears risky for the party’s image and electoral prospects.
Sanders’ history of endorsements also includes figures who have later faced significant scandals. In 2018, he endorsed Andrew Gillum, a former candidate for Florida governor. Sanders praised Gillum for his commitment to healthcare for all, raising the minimum wage, and investing in sustainable energy.
However, Gillum later faced legal troubles, including an arrest on drug-related charges in Alabama and a highly publicized incident in a Miami Beach hotel involving illicit substances. Despite these issues, Sanders’ initial endorsement highlighted Gillum’s progressive platform.
In 2019, Cenk Uygur, founder of The Young Turks, saw his endorsement from Sanders rescinded. This followed the surfacing of racist material in Uygur’s online history. Sanders had initially backed Uygur, stating he would “serve ordinary people, not powerful special interests” and was a “voice that we desperately need in Congress.”
Sanders has also been a vocal supporter of several “Squad” members, including Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. Both have faced accusations of antisemitism and have track records of anti-Israel stances and advocating to defund the police.
Tlaib recently drew criticism for her reaction to the prison sentences of accused antifa members convicted in a violent attack on a Texas immigration facility. She called the sentences a “travesty and totally unjustified,” an act federal prosecutors deemed terrorism.
Shannon Watts, a gun-control advocate and commentator, believes Sanders’ focus on candidates who align with his policy goals has led him to overlook character flaws that could jeopardize their electability. She pointed to another Sanders endorsement in 2026.
“A reminder that Bernie Sanders also endorsed another candidate who mocked sexual assault, failed Utah House Dem candidate Nate Blouin,” Watts remarked on X this week, referring to a candidate who lost his primary earlier this year. She concluded, “It’s almost like there’s a pattern.”
Natalie Baldassarre, Republican National Committee Press Secretary, echoed these sentiments, suggesting a consistent theme in Sanders’ endorsements.
“Whether it’s alleged rapist Graham Platner, anti-cop Abdul El-Sayed, or ‘trans kid lover’ James Talarico,’ Bernie Sanders’ clown car of unvetted and untested candidates is showing the American people just how unfit they are for public office,” Baldassarre stated.
In the 2026 midterm cycle alone, Sanders has endorsed 19 federal candidates, with nine of them having no prior office-holding experience. He has also endorsed an additional 54 candidates in state and local races, a significantly higher number than fellow progressives Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Ro Khanna.
Baldassarre indicated that the Republican party intends to highlight these endorsements. “We will continue to expose these candidates for who they are — radical socialists who will push their extreme ideology and strip every American of their safety, sanity and freedom,” she asserted.
The upcoming August 4 Michigan Senate primary is being closely watched as a further test of Sanders’ influence. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive doctor endorsed by Sanders, will face off against Representative Haley Stevens, who has the backing of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. El-Sayed’s platform includes calls to defund the police, abolish ICE, and implement universal healthcare, positions that align with Sanders’ political agenda.
“All eyes now turn to the August 4 Michigan Senate primary, where Sanders has endorsed progressive Abdul El-Sayed over centrist Rep. Haley Stevens who has Chuck Schumer behind her,” Bade noted in a recent Substack article, underscoring the high stakes of this particular endorsement.
