Sanders and AOC’s Movement Is Exploding – Here’s Why

ByEthan Pineridge

A new political movement is taking shape across America as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour transforms from rallies into what could become a lasting progressive coalition. While ostensibly opposing Trump’s second term, the movement has found its most powerful message in targeting the influence of billionaires and corporate money in politics, according to The New Republic.

“If we are here to defeat [Trump], we must defeat the system that created him,” Ocasio-Cortez told a Los Angeles crowd estimated at 36,000 people. This message against systemic corruption appears to resonate more deeply than direct attacks on the president himself, with crowd reactions notably stronger when speakers target “oligarchy” rather than Trump personally.

The movement has channeled grassroots frustration into specific policy targets, including congressional stock trading, corporate lobbying, and the outsized influence of billionaires like Elon Musk in government. These issues create a unifying thread connecting healthcare costs, housing affordability, and other economic challenges to a common source: plutocratic influence.

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“Determined Hope” Mobilizes Diverse Coalition

What makes this movement significant isn’t just its size but its emotional resonance. Attendees describe seeking not just political opposition but “hope itself” in the face of Democratic defeats and Republican control of government. The rallies provide both community and purpose for those feeling disillusioned.

“The only way I know how to go on is to hope and believe—and certainly it won’t happen if we don’t come here and try to work together and listen to each other,” one 32-year-old attendee told The Hill. This sentiment reflects a broader effort to transform disappointment into political engagement rather than apathy.

Congressman Maxwell Frost, who spoke at the Los Angeles rally, framed the movement’s purpose: “When something big happens in the country and people feel like something’s wrong, they’ll pick one of two things—sometimes it drives them further into apathy, sometimes it drives them into action. Organizers stand at that crossroad.”

Generational Transition Takes Shape

While Sanders remains a powerful draw, observers note Ocasio-Cortez is positioning herself as the movement’s future standard-bearer with a more precise message and strategic vision. Her speeches connect local issues to national power structures and offer specific policy reforms rather than general critiques.

“She represents the next generation of Democratic politics,” said Basil Smikle, former executive director for the New York State Democratic Party. This generational transition was symbolically highlighted when Sanders jokingly introduced Ocasio-Cortez as his “daughter” during the Salt Lake City rally, prompting someone in the crowd to shout “Future president!”—which drew enthusiastic cheers.

Financial Support Follows Grassroots Enthusiasm

The movement’s growing influence is reflected in Ocasio-Cortez’s unprecedented fundraising success. She raised $9.6 million during the first quarter of 2025—more than five times her total from the same period last year, according to CNBC.

Remarkably, 64% of donations came from first-time contributors, with an average donation of just $21. This financial independence reinforces the anti-corruption message, with her campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben noting, “It also means we are not beholden to any lobbyist, corporation, or billionaire.”

Expanding Beyond Traditional Boundaries

The tour has strategically targeted cities across the Western United States, including traditionally conservative areas like Salt Lake City, Tucson, and Nampa, Idaho. This geographical reach challenges conventional assumptions about progressive politics being limited to coastal enclaves.

More surprising is the coalition’s broadening demographic appeal. As one observer noted at the Los Angeles rally, “This was not the hardened Bernie crowd of 2016. I saw far more Harris-Walz shirts than Bernie 2020 shirts.” This suggests the movement may be attracting Democratic voters beyond the progressive base that supported Sanders in previous presidential campaigns.

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Party Establishment Remains Skeptical

Not all Democratic strategists endorse the movement’s approach. Matt Bennett of the center-left Third Way expressed concern that rally attendees represent core Democratic voters rather than the swing voters needed to win future elections.

“We need to pay more attention to the voters that we lost, the drop-off voter, the people who left the Democrats after voting for Biden and then voted for Trump,” Bennett cautioned. “Those are not the people showing up at these rallies.”

Nevertheless, even skeptics acknowledge Ocasio-Cortez’s effectiveness. Bennett praised her as “a very, very, very effective member of the House” who could be particularly valuable if Democrats regain their House majority.

As this movement continues building momentum across the country, its success may ultimately depend on whether its anti-corruption message can expand beyond rallies to reshape Democratic priorities and attract voters who abandoned the party in 2024. For now, the Sanders-AOC alliance has clearly identified a unifying theme with significant political potential.

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