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Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders endorses Oregon Democrats for 2022 midterms, saying "American democracy is at stake"

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders - flanked by Oregon Democrats Val Hoyle, Tina Kotek, Jeff Merkley, Doyle Canning and many others - appeared at the University of Oregon campus today to stump for Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
Brian Bull
/
KLCC
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders - flanked by Oregon Democrats Val Hoyle, Tina Kotek, Jeff Merkley, Doyle Canning and many others - appeared at the University of Oregon campus today to stump for Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

“Bernie” fired up a crowd of well over 1,100 people at the University of Oregon in Eugene today. The progressive Senator from Vermont had plenty to say about the midterm elections.

Bernie Sanders was joined by a roster of Oregon Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Tina Kotek, and Val Hoyle, who’s running for Congress against Republican Alek Skarlatos.

Sanders urged support for Democratic candidates going forward.

“We can make public colleges and universities, tuition free…” said Sanders, to an enthusiastic cheer.

In fact, Sanders scored many applause lines from the campus crowd. Especially on the potential legalization of marijuana on the federal level.

Over a thousand people - many university students - packed the amphitheater where Sanders appeared with Democratic candidates and activists.
Brian Bull
/
KLCC
Over a thousand people - many university students - packed the amphitheater where Sanders appeared with Democratic candidates and activists.

Sanders said the future of America itself is at stake, referencing former President Trump’s denial of losing to Joe Biden two years ago. Since losing his re-election bid, Trump and many other Republicans have amplified groundless claims of voter fraud.

“Your fathers and grandfathers and grandparents died and fought to preserve democracy, we’re not going to let Trump and his friends take it away!” Sanders declared, to a roar of applause and cheers.

In a release sent right after the event, the Skarlatos campaign says Sanders’ endorsement of Hoyle demonstrates her, quote, “extreme liberal agenda.”

©2022, KLCC.

Brian Bull is a contributing freelance reporter with the KLCC News department, who first began working with the station in 2016. He's a senior reporter with the Native American media organization Buffalo's Fire, and was recently a journalism professor at the University of Oregon.

In his nearly 30 years working as a public media journalist, Bull has worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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