Sen. Bernie Sanders Credit: James Buck

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) reelection campaign raised more than $925,000 in fewer than six weeks, according to his latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. Sanders, who easily won a third Senate term in November and is contemplating a second presidential run in 2020, reported spending nearly $730,000 during the same period, from October 18 to November 26.

That leaves him with nearly $8.8 million, which could be transferred to a campaign for president, should he decide to run.

Sanders’ expenses are consistent with those of a probable presidential candidate. They include about $113,000 on events; nearly $92,000 on salaries to 31 individuals; more than $64,000 on travel by car and plane; more than $60,000 on research, including $52,000 to the polling company Tulchin Research; and more than $37,000 on lodging.

His travel expenses also included a $6,800 payment to the private charter plane company Apollo Jets, as well as $5,000 in carbon offsets to NativeEnergy to compensate for his air travel. According to a previous FEC filing, Sanders spent nearly $300,000 on chartered planes earlier in the campaign season, as VTDigger.org reported last week.

On Monday, Sanders supporters formally launched a federal political action committee called Organizing for Bernie. Cofounder Rich Pelletier, who served as Sanders’ deputy presidential campaign manager in 2016, told Rolling Stone that the group has two goals: “One, we want to show the support is there. The second is to begin to do the organizing that is going to need to happen for him to hit the ground running, by the time he announces — if he announces.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who wasn’t up for reelection, reported $43,200 in contributions. Unlike Sanders, who received 98 percent of his contributions from individuals, Leahy received the majority of his — 64 percent — from PACs. He spent nearly $19,000, leaving him with about $75,500 cash on hand.

Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who handily beat Republican Anya Tynio on November 6, received $52,000 in contributions, 80 percent of which came from PACs. He spent $22,800, leaving him with more than $2.1 million.

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Alicia Freese was a Seven Days staff writer from 2014 through 2018.

14 replies on “Bernie Sanders Raises Nearly $1 Million in Under Six Weeks”

  2. @Lucas, you hit it right on the nails head. Socialist bernie never had a job He ran unsuccessful independent candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1972 and 1974; unsuccessful independent candidate for election for governor of Vermont in 1972, 1976 and 1986; mayor of Burlington, Vt., 1981-1989; unsuccessful independent candidate to the One Hundred First Congress in 1988; elected as an independent to the One Hundred Second and to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1991-January 3, 2007); was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives but was elected as an Independent to the United States Senate in 2006 for the term commencing January 3, 2007; reelected in 2012 for the term ending January 3, 2019; chair, Committee on Veterans Affairs (One Hundred Thirteenth Congress); was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016.. All of these “jobs” does not require physical work. He claims to be an independent but we know he’s a democrat. We also know he was paid off to leave the presidential race if he wanted to be president he would have stayed. maybe he’s going to do a repeat performance ..money means a lot to him and wifey.

  3. I’ve disliked Bernie forever, still do. However, I must give him credit as one of the greatest game players of all time. Millions of dollars thrown at him, multiple houses and high dollar deals, jetsetting the globe in private jets, all while never really working. Even now; he’s duped the people who live in Vermont into electing him again for Senate. Now he collects a fat salary with all the benefits and isn’t even doing the job!! The kicker is, he told us all that was his plan “maybe”. He’s in a groove and will die collecting money from the leftist sheep. I don’t think he cares about being President. In fact, he probably hopes he won’t (too much like real work). All he wants to do is keep the leftist flock following with their wallets in hand. Kudos sir.

  4. She wasn’t “cleared.” No jury found her “not guilty.” The prosecutor declined to prosecute. Big difference. I’m sure if Mueller declines to pursue charges against Trump you’ll rush to say “He’s been cleared!” Not.

    And as for Bernie, it’s sick that he raised $8.8 million for reelection to a Senate seat in the smallest state in the country and where he had essentially no competition and was guaranteed reelection. “Get money out of politics! Except for me.”

  5. We know where he got the big money every last penny and it wasn’t the grassroots. It came from PAC’S..ans out of state . People are so gullible..and he knows it..

  7. Showing once again that money can be raised by grassroots and not super wealthy individuals or corporations when the candidate actually is in touch with his constituents and represents their interests, not corporate interests, as he is elected to do.

  9. Wow. With that kind of money maybe he could pay back the money his wife extorted from the college she drove into bankruptcy.

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