U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders this week helped launch a new political group, known as Our Revolution, to help working families by pushing progressive measures on such issues as income inequality and universal health care.
“Real change… always takes place from the bottom on up, when millions of people come together and demand fundamental change in the country,” Sanders said at the kickoff for the group on Wednesday evening, an event that was followed by some 2,600 “watch parties” around the country.
The group’s website says “Our Revolution will transform American politics to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to the needs of working families,” and lists a number of candidates around the country to support, including David Zuckerman, the Progressive state senator from Chittenden County who is the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, and Norwich native Zephyr Teachout, who is running for a U.S. House seat as a Democrat in New York state’s Hudson Valley.
Sanders has come under some criticism this month for letting the clock run out on deadlines to file a financial disclosure for his presidential campaign, which has now ended. True believers might also be a little dismayed that Sanders and his wife have bought a vacation home on North Hero, an island on Lake Champlain, from a big book advance.
And although he has pledged to campaign for Hillary Clinton and some other Democrats this fall, Sanders has also made another key change. The 74-year-old Sanders, who takes pride in calling himself the longest-serving independent in the history of Congress, is again unabashedly calling himself an independent in his party affiliation in the Senate.
Just last November, you may recall, the Vermont senator made a big show of proclaiming himself a Democrat in order to run in the New Hampshire primary, and to avoid a possible challenge with a state ballot commission.
“I am running as a Democrat obviously, I am a Democrat now,” he said at the time.
Sanders a few weeks ago indicated he would return to the Senate as an independent, and his Senate press releases are again routinely including the “I-Vt.” designation.
Asked what Sanders now considers himself, Michael Briggs, his spokesman, said on Thursday via email, “He was elected as an independent and caucuses with Senate Democrats.”
Sanders may be an authentic figure, but his quick trip back to independent status is also emblematic of why many major Vermont Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, Gov. Peter Shumlin, and former Gov. Howard Dean may have endorsed Hillary Clinton during the primary.
They know with Sanders, there is a big “I” when it comes to any political team.
Vermont House Majority Leader Sarah Copeland Hanzas, D-Bradford, isn’t the only Upper Valley Democrat interested in becoming House speaker in January to replace Speaker Shap Smith, who lost a bid for lieutenant governor.
State Rep. Chip Conquest, D-Wells River, first has to fend off a challenge from Republican Joseph Parsons in the Orange-Caledonia House district, but if he does so, said he plans to run for House Speaker.
“I want to be clear that I don’t take getting re-elected for granted. I’m going to work on that campaign now, but I am interested, yes,” the 54-year-old Conquest said.
Conquest describes himself as a “moderate” and said he is concerned that “Vermonters in general have lost faith in state government to be working in their interest.”
At least two other House Democrats are also said to be considering a bid to become speaker.
Conquest, who has worked as a carpenter and also coaches the Blue Mountain High School girls soccer team, gained attention last spring when he offered what many saw as a reasonable proposal to decriminalize small amounts of homegrown marijuana. The measure was narrowly defeated in the House.
Two prominent political activists from the Valley have weighed in with their endorsements in New Hampshire’s gubernatorial election. Orford tree farmer and anti-tax campaigner Tom Thomson is endorsing state Sen. Jeanie Forrester, R-Meredith, in her campaign for governor.
“Jeanie Forrester is a conservative leader who will protect New Hampshire taxpayers and stand up to the liberal Republican establishment,” Thomson said in a news release. He credited Forrester with opposing the Northern Pass project as proposed and suggesting the line that would carry Canadian hydropower to southern New England be buried in state right-of-ways. “She, like me, recognizes the North Country is ‘God’s Country’ and should not be destroyed with 135-foot towers.”
On the Democratic side, former state Sen. Peter Burling is backing Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern in his run for governor and is hosting a house party for the Democrat at his Cornish home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 1.
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John Gregg can be reached at jgregg@vnews.com.