Common Ground Scorecard logo

Common Ground Scorecard for Bernie Sanders

Maverick
U.S. Senate

Bernie Sanders (VT - I)

Compare

Bernie Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist – an independent who caucuses with Democrats. Now in his third Senate term, Sanders campaigned on fighting inequality during two bids for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020. Some staples of his platform — a $15-per-hour federal minimum wage, government-financed health care, and higher taxes on top earners — have become more commonly accepted within the party. Though his message resonated with many Democratic voters, he ultimately came up short in the presidential primaries, losing first to Hillary Clinton and then to Joe Biden. In Vermont, he worked as a writer and a carpenter and began a political career in which his persistence moved him from a socialist outsider to a respected officeholder.

(Bloomberg Government biography of Bernie Sanders)

Learn what Bernie Sanders says about finding common ground

Up for Reelection in 2024

Top Organizations and Groups

  • Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Senate Committee on Budget (Chairman)
  • Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
  • Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
  • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Common Ground Score is

30
*Common Ground Maverick*
Average

Based on a scale of 0-100, below is a breakdown of the Common Ground Score:

Official PerformanceMAX 30
0
Personal ActionsMAX 30
10
CommunicationsMAX 20
20
CommitmentsMAX 20
0
BONUS: Outstanding Common GrounderMAX 10
0

See an Overview of the Common Ground Scorecard

Discover how scores are calculated and other FAQs

View Bernie Sanders's Maverick Matrix

Click to compare your selected politicians

Common Ground Score History for Bernie Sanders

Hover over points for more data

Official Performance Commentary

Bottom 25% for Official Performance.

Personal Actions Commentary

Spoke at the conservative evangelical Liberty University, saying, "I came here today because I believe that it is important for those with different views in our country to engage in civil discourse — not just to shout at each other or make fun of each other... to try to communicate with those who do not agree with us and see where, if possible, we can find common ground and, in other words, to reach out of our zone of comfort." Joined Republican Senator Lindsey Graham for an Oxford-style debate as part of The Senate Project hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Communications Commentary

"As a nation, we can't continue screaming at each other, we've got to find common ground."

Commitments Commentary

The politician has not affirmed the commitments.

Outstanding Commmon Grounder Commentary

There is no information available to support this score.

What are the score ranges?

  • Champion
  • Well Above Average
  • Somewhat Above Average
  • Average
  • Somewhat Below Average
  • Well Below Average

Insufficient Data to Score

For candidates without congressional or gubernatorial service, Official Performance points are a predictive estimate using statistical modeling.

Personal Actions points can be provisionally awarded for a commitment to take the action(s) within the first six months of office, if elected.

Maverick Matrix for Bernie Sanders

Balancers
Mavericks
Hold-Outs
Team Players
Constituent Partisan Intensity
Common Ground Score
Learn More About the Maverick Matrix