Bernie Sanders, AOC Ignite Crowds in Red States/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Progressive leaders Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are energizing liberal voters in deep-red states with massive rallies aimed at countering Trump’s influence. Their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour has drawn unexpectedly large crowds in conservative strongholds like Utah and Idaho. Despite Republican dominance, the events offer a sense of unity, hope, and resistance among local Democrats.
Progressives Rally in Red States Quick Looks
- Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez draw huge crowds in Utah and Idaho
- “Fighting Oligarchy” tour aims to energize red-state Democrats
- Events spark hope among progressives feeling isolated in GOP territory
- Trump won Utah and Idaho by large margins in 2020
- Democrats seek to broaden reach ahead of 2026 midterms and 2028 race
- AOC hints at future leadership role in the party
- Local residents speak out on feeling politically marginalized
- Idaho Governor mocks tour, underscoring political divide
Bernie Sanders, AOC Ignite Crowds in Red States
Deep Look
In a bold move to revitalize progressive energy across America’s conservative heartland, Senators Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have launched a grassroots campaign targeting deeply Republican states. Their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour is taking them straight into Trump country, drawing thousands of supporters in states like Utah and Idaho — regions historically seen as out of reach for Democratic candidates.
Stephanie and Ryan Burnett, a mother-son duo from South Weber, Utah, were stunned by the size of the crowd at Sanders’ rally in Salt Lake City. The lines wound around the buildings leading to the University of Utah’s aging basketball arena, which had attracted more than 15,000 attendees — a rare turnout for a progressive event in such a conservative stronghold.
“It’s not something we’re used to seeing here,” said Ryan, a 28-year-old retail manager. The overwhelming turnout suggested a hidden hunger for political alternatives, even in states where Trump maintains strong support.
Outside of Boise, Idaho, the scene was similar. The Ford Idaho Center was filled to capacity with 12,500 people. Ironically, Canyon County — where the rally was held — only has 11,902 registered Democrats, making the rally’s size even more surprising.
While these states — Utah, Idaho, and Montana — are unlikely to shift blue anytime soon, the events reveal underlying frustration among left-leaning residents and growing dissatisfaction with Trump-era policies. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are seizing the moment to rally progressives and plant seeds of resistance where liberal voices often go unheard.
The rallies are part of a broader Democratic strategy to reconnect with disenfranchised voters, particularly in areas where the party has been written off. Ocasio-Cortez, widely seen as the ideological successor to Sanders, received a warm welcome from the crowd and reaffirmed her belief in grassroots change.
“From the waitress who is now speaking to you today, I can tell you: impossible is nothing,” she said, referencing her 2018 upset victory over a Democratic establishment figure.
Sanders, now 83, told the Associated Press that Democrats must make a choice: “Do they want these folks to be in the Democratic Party, or do they want to be funded by billionaires?”
Trump won Utah 60%-38% and Idaho 67%-30% in 2020, and neither state currently has a Democrat in Congress. Republicans dominate all statewide offices and legislative seats. Despite this, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez believe that building solidarity among isolated progressives is a vital step toward long-term political change.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2024, recently toured Ohio to better understand the shifting political climate in that swing state. California Congressman Ro Khanna joined him, aiming to spotlight Vice President JD Vance in Cleveland — further emphasizing the Democrats’ new red-state engagement strategy.
The Burnetts, like many at the Utah rally, described their daily lives as politically lonely. Stephanie, 52, a caregiver, says she feels alienated at her local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Trump bumper stickers are common.
“I went to church this morning. I’m coming to this now because I feel more accepted here,” she said.
Others expressed similar sentiments. Meghan Nadoroff and her mother, Kathy Franckiewicz, who live in Kuna, Idaho, said they often feel ignored by national Democrats and bullied by local GOP policies.
“It’s easy to just give up, politically,” Nadoroff said.
The rallies are doing more than offering inspiration — they’re fostering community. For 20-year-old Jaxon Pond from Meridian, Idaho, attending the Boise event was an emotional experience.
“It feels safe, to know that there are more of us out there,” he said. As a gay man, Pond says he often feels compelled to self-censor in Idaho’s conservative climate.
Even amid this resurgence of progressive hope, conservative leaders are pushing back. Idaho Governor Brad Little took to X (formerly Twitter) to mock the tour, posting the well-known Bernie Sanders meme captioned:
“I am once again asking for you to not bring your failed policies to Idaho.”
Still, the tour has succeeded in energizing progressives who often feel invisible in their communities.
Owen Reeder, a 63-year-old accountant in Utah, says the Democratic Party must present a more empathetic face to win over red-state voters. “You’ve got to be nice to everybody,” he said. “You’re never going to make a friend by pounding someone on the head.”
The “Fighting Oligarchy” tour may not immediately flip these red states, but it’s making waves and building morale. For many, it’s a reminder that being outnumbered doesn’t mean being alone — and that meaningful change can start anywhere.
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