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Bernard Sanders

U.S. Senator for VT

IndependentSenate

Positions last updated Oct 12, 2026

In Congress since
1991
Years served
36
Age
85
Current term ends
Jan 3, 2031

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress (via the public congress-legislators dataset). Photo: official congressional portrait.

Compare with another member

Where their record lies

Between the typical Democratic and typical Republican record

SandersClose to the typical Democratic record. Bernard Sanders's record sits 0% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record. 258 Democratic and 269 Republican members are shown; 13 of 530 sit in the middle.
Democratic258 members
Middle13 members
Republican269 members

Close to the typical Democratic record

Bernard Sanders's record sits 0% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record.

Built from 6 topics that divide the parties. It describes a record of votes and statements, not a person. How this is calculated.

Their record by topic

Further from the center means more agreement with the quiz statement

Web chart of Bernard Sanders’s positions on 8 topics; a larger shape means stronger agreement.Health careTaxes & spendingImmigrationClimate & energyGunsAbortionEducationForeign policy

Each point averages how Bernard Sanders votes and what they say on that topic. A topic with no data is left out, not drawn as neutral. The sources are in the sections below.

Where they stand

Each topic is a statement from the quiz. "Agree" means their votes or words line up with it.

  • Health care

    “The federal government should guarantee health coverage for every American.”

    Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Strongly agree

  • Taxes & spending

    “Lowering taxes matters more than expanding government services.”

    Votes: Strongly disagree|Says: Disagree

  • Immigration

    “Border security should be the top priority in immigration policy.”

    Votes: Strongly disagree|Says: Neutral or unsure

  • Climate & energy

    “The federal government should require cuts to carbon emissions, even if energy costs rise.”

    Votes: Agree|Says: Agree

  • Guns

    “Federal law should require background checks on all gun sales, including private sales.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: Strongly agree

  • Abortion

    “Abortion law should be decided by each state, not the federal government.”

    Votes: No data|Says: Disagree

  • Education

    “Public school funding should follow students to the school their family chooses, including private schools.”

    Votes: Disagree|Says: Disagree

  • Foreign policy

    “The U.S. should keep providing military aid to its allies abroad.”

    Votes: Strongly disagree|Says: Neutral or unsure

Votes on key bills

The final vote on each bill Scope tracks (not every vote they have cast). Newest first.

Show 3 more votes

Source: House Clerk and Senate roll-call records via Congress.gov. For every vote they have cast, see GovTrack.

Words versus votes

Pro preview · free for now

No topic where votes and statements point in opposite directions (7 topics compared).

A difference is a prompt to look closer, not proof of anything. Votes come from a short list of tracked bills; statements come from speeches, press releases and bills they put their name on. See the evidence for each topic. On 3 more topics one side is neutral, so there is nothing to contrast.

Campaign money

$24.9 million raised in the 2025-2026 cycle

For the 2025-2026 election cycle, through Jun 30, 2026. Who funds a campaign can shape who a member listens to, though it does not decide how they vote.

Raised
$24.9 million
Spent
$12.8 million
Cash on hand
$0

Where the money came from

  • Small donors (under $200 each)69%
  • Larger individual donors26%
  • Other5%

Source: Federal Election Commission filings · see top donors on OpenSecrets.

What they work on

39 bills written, 266 signed onto. Top topic: International Affairs

In the current Congress they have written 39 bills and signed on to 266 more. A bill someone writes shows what they want to change.

Topics of the bills they wrote

  • International Affairs20
  • Health6
  • Education4
  • Taxation4
  • Armed Forces and National Security2

Most recent bills they wrote

  • S. 5456: Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026 (Sep 22, 2026)
  • S. 5185: Audit the Pentagon Act (Jul 30, 2026)
  • S. 5026: Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2026 (Jul 16, 2026)
  • S. 4825: American A.I. Sovereign Wealth Fund Act (Jun 18, 2026)
  • S.J.Res. 32: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of... (Apr 14, 2026)

Source: Sponsorship records from Congress.gov; each bill links to its page there.

Committees

5 committees: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Senate Committee on Finance...

Committees study and rewrite bills before the full chamber votes.

Source: Committee rosters from the congress-legislators dataset (built from the House and Senate committee pages, as of 2026-10-12). Each committee name links to its official page.

Career in Congress

1991 to present
  • 1991 to 2007U.S. House, VT at-largeIndependent
  • 2007 to presentU.S. Senate, VTIndependent

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Contact and learn more

Office phone, website, message form and where to read more

Contact their office

Read more about them

Source: Contact details from the member's official pages, via the congress-legislators dataset. Outside sites are not run by Scope.

The evidence, topic by topic

Every position links to the votes, quotes and bills it was built from

Health care

How they vote

Strongly agree (+2)

Calculated from 3 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.Roll call on billRoll call on bill

Votes behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Health care

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Strongly agree (+2)

Based on 2 sponsored bills, 3 cosponsored bills, 2 floor speechs related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

“we remain the only major country on Earth not to guarantee healthcare to all people as a human right”

“we are the only major country not to guarantee healthcare to all people as a human right”

floor speech: GOVERNMENT FUNDINGcosponsored bill: SJRES 84: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servsponsored bill: S 1506: Medicare for All Actfloor speech: ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILLcosponsored bill: S 2556: Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Actcosponsored bill: S 2149: Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025sponsored bill: S 939: Medicare Dental, Hearing, and Vision Expansion Act of 2025

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Health care

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Taxes & spending

How they vote

Strongly disagree (-2)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

Votes behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Disagree (-1)

Based on 2 cosponsored bills, 1 floor speech related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

“you slash programs that working families desperately need in order to give tax breaks to billionaires”

cosponsored bill: S 343: Keep Our PACT Actcosponsored bill: S 1372: Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025floor speech: Trump Administration (Executive Calendar)

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Immigration

How they vote

Strongly disagree (-2)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on bill

Votes behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Immigration

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Neutral or unsure (0)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 398: NO BAN Act

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Immigration

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Climate & energy

How they vote

Agree (+1)

Calculated from 1 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.

Votes behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Climate & energy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Agree (+1)

Based on 3 cosponsored bills related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 25: Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act of 2025cosponsored bill: SCONRES 18: A concurrent resolution recognizing a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting the fundamental rights of children due to the Trump administration's directcosponsored bill: SRES 36: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States, States, cities, Tribal nations, businesses, institutions of higher education, and other institutions

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Climate & energy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Guns

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 1 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

Votes behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Guns

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Strongly agree (+2)

Based on 4 cosponsored bills related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 3214: Background Check Expansion Actcosponsored bill: S 3458: Background Check Completion Act of 2025cosponsored bill: S 726: Ethan's Lawcosponsored bill: SCONRES 25: A concurrent resolution recognizing the 15th anniversary of the January 8, 2011, Tucson, Arizona, shooting and honoring the survivors and victims, including former Congre

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Guns

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Abortion

How they vote

No data

What they say

Disagree (-1)

Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 4701: Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2026cosponsored bill: S 2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Abortion

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Education

How they vote

Disagree (-1)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.Roll call on bill

Votes behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Education

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Disagree (-1)

Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 4297: Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Actcosponsored bill: SRES 133: A resolution expressing support for the local public K-12 schools of the United States and condemning any actions that would defund public education or weaken or dismantle

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Education

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Foreign policy

How they vote

Strongly disagree (-2)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.Roll call on bill

Votes behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Neutral or unsure (0)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: SRES 51: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Agency for International Development is essential for advancing the national security interests of the

Statements behind Sanders, Bernard's position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Revision history

50 recorded changes
  • Foreign policy (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 1 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 1 to 1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (statement): -1 to -1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (statement): 2 to 2Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Abortion (statement): -1 to -1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): -1 to -1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Immigration (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (statement): 1 to 1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (statement): 2 to 2Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): 0 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Abortion (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Immigration (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (statement): created at 2Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (statement): created at 2Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026