Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has been barnstorming across Texas. He’s been speaking at rallies in San Antonio, Austin and beyond.
The independent who caucuses with the Democrats in the U.S. Senate says Texas could go blue on Election Day November 5th.
“I'm gonna try to do, not only in Texas but around the country, everything that I can to see that Kamala Harris becomes our next president. Kamala has an outside chance of winning Texas. If she wins Texas, she will become the next president and I'm going do what I can to make that happen,” Sanders said to Texas Public Radio’s "The Source."
Texas has 40 Electoral College votes that are necessary for the Republican Party to maintain competitiveness in future presidential races. Turning Texas into a Democratic state would be incredible damage to the GOP.
“I happen to think politically there is huge potential here in Texas. I think the Democratic Party could do a lot better job in mobilizing people and registering than they have, but again, I think there is a lot of potential here in Texas,” Sanders said.
Sanders admitted that a major barrier for Democrats to win Texas is the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act. Independent examinations of voting practices in Texas have determined that the state is one of the most difficult states to vote in.
“I would hope that everybody, regardless of their political views, wants to defend the foundations of American democracy. And the essence of what democracy is about is one person, one vote. Obviously, we want to make sure that elections are clean. They are not corrupt. And we have to do everything we can to make that happen,” Sanders said.
Sanders said he would support the elimination of the filibuster to pass a new voting rights act which would make elections across the nation more fair.
“So I worry very much that this country is moving in an oligarchic direction where power, increasingly—economic and political—rests with the hands of very, very wealthy,” he said.
Guest:
Bernie Sanders is an U.S. Senator from Vermont.
"The Source" is a live call-in program airing Mondays through Thursdays from 12-1 p.m. Leave a message before the program at (210) 615-8982. During the live show, call 833-877-8255, email thesource@tpr.org.
*This interview was pre-recorded and will air on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
