Bernard Sanders — U.S. Senator from Vermont
Bernard Sanders is a Independent Senator representing Vermont, serving a term from 2025-01-03 to 2031-01-03.
Overview
| Party | Independent |
|---|---|
| Chamber | Senator |
| State | Vermont |
| Current term | 2025-01-03 – 2031-01-03 |
| Born | 1941-09-08 |
| Bioguide ID | S000033 |
Election & Term History
Bernard Sanders has held 12 terms in Congress on record, first elected in 1991.
| Term | Office | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1991-01-03 – 1993-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 1993-01-05 – 1995-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 1995-01-04 – 1997-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 1997-01-07 – 1999-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 1999-01-06 – 2001-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 2001-01-03 – 2003-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 2003-01-07 – 2005-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 2005-01-04 – 2007-01-03 | U.S. Representative for VT-At-Large | Independent |
| 2007-01-04 – 2013-01-03 | U.S. Senator from Vermont | Independent |
| 2013-01-03 – 2019-01-03 | U.S. Senator from Vermont | Independent |
| 2019-01-03 – 2025-01-03 | U.S. Senator from Vermont | Independent |
| 2025-01-03 – 2031-01-03 | U.S. Senator from Vermont | Independent |
Voting Record
In the 119th Congress, Bernard Sanders has cast 822 recorded votes. Based on DW-NOMINATE ideology scoring (Voteview, UCLA) -- a standard academic measure derived from actual roll-call vote patterns, not self-description -- Bernard Sanders is more liberal than 100% of Senate independents on the liberal-conservative spectrum this Congress.
| Ideology score (DW-NOMINATE, dim. 1) | -0.546 |
|---|---|
| Position within party | more liberal than 100% of Senate independents |
| Recorded votes this Congress | 822 |
| Votes with own party | 84.8% of contested roll-call votes |
| Missed votes | 63 of 890 (7.1%) |
Scale runs roughly -1 (most liberal) to +1 (most conservative); scores are relative rankings among the member's own chamber and party, not an absolute measure. "Votes with own party" compares each Yea/Nay vote to that party's majority position on the same roll call, for every recorded vote so far in the 119th Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What party is Bernard Sanders in?
Bernard Sanders is a Independent, currently serving as U.S. Senator from Vermont.
How long has Bernard Sanders served in Congress?
Bernard Sanders's first term on record began in 1991, and their current term runs from 2025-01-03 to 2031-01-03.
Has Bernard Sanders served in both the House and Senate?
Yes. Bernard Sanders's term history includes service in both the House of Representatives and the Senate -- see the full election and term history table above.
How does Bernard Sanders's voting record compare to the rest of their party?
Based on DW-NOMINATE ideology scoring (Voteview, UCLA), Bernard Sanders is more liberal than 100% of Senate independents in the 119th Congress, having cast 822 recorded votes.
How often does Bernard Sanders vote with their own party?
Bernard Sanders has voted with the majority of their own party on 84.8% of contested roll-call votes so far in the 119th Congress, missing 63 of 890 recorded votes (7.1%).