Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders marshaled support for his progressive platform Friday morning at a high school in Santa Ana, urging people who aren’t Democrats to get new ballots if they plan to vote in the March 3 primary.

The event at Valley High marked one of the first campaign stops for Sanders in Southern California as the Vermont Senator and other Democratic presidential hopefuls begin to stump in the state in advance of next month’s Super Tuesday primary.

It also came just before news reports surfaced that the Sanders campaign has been told that Russia is trying to boost his electoral chances.

The event showed Sanders’ ground game in action. At least 1,000 people showed up, many after receiving texts or other personal alerts from the Sanders campaign. The crowd, mostly supporters, packed the outdoor stage set up in the school’s basketball courts. As they waited for the current Democratic front runner talk about issues he’s been promoting nationally, including “Medicare for All,” the “Green New Deal” and erasing student loan debt, some broke into chants of “Bernie! Bernie!”

A happy Anne Van de Merghel arrives at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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As wife Erica Smith, left, looks on David Reyes holds their daughter, Galadriel, eight months into the air during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to hundreds gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A Sanders supporter listens as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to hundreds gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Anna Masa holds her dogs, Mia and Siesta at the podium following a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to hundreds gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A Sanders supporter carries a poster as she arrives at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to hundreds gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders embraces a supporter during a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Jeff Jones of Los Angeles holds a shirt he hopes to give to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders during a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Young Sanders supporters arrive at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to hundreds gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A Sanders supporter holds a Bernie card into the air during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to a room of members of the media just prior to a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A happy Sanders supporter arrives at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A patriotically dressed Sanders supporter arrives at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A young Sanders supporter sits in a stroller at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to a room of members of the media just prior to a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to hundreds gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A Sanders supporter holds a Bernie card into the air during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders signs a poster for a supporter during a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Alphus Imani, right, of Los Angeles watches from the stands as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders leaves a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A woman wears a vote shirt to the rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



David Reyes holds his daughter, Galadriel, eight months, as she chews on a poster during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to hundreds gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sanders supporters watch from the stands as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders leaves a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

David Reyes holds his daughter, Galadriel, eight months, as she chews on a poster during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A Sanders supporter holds a Bernie card into the air during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jeff Jones, center, of Los Angeles poses for a photo with Sanders supporters following a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

David Reyes holds his daughter, Galadriel, eight months, into the air during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Maya Lasso, 4, of Monterey Park stands next to a couple of dressed up dogs following a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters gathered for a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to a room of members of the media just prior to a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to a room of members of the media just prior to a rally held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020.(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Girls pose for photos at the podium following a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders held at Valley High School in Santa Ana on Friday, February 21, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)



During his speech, which lasted about 20 minutes, Sanders also punctuated several points with barbs aimed at the political and economic elite, large corporations and President Donald Trump.

However, before the rally, Sanders drove another point to a group of reporters: Voters who don’t officially align with either party, who are registered No Party Preference, must seek new ballots, possibly at voting centers, if they plan to have a say in the Democratic Primary.

The candidate and his campaign staff declined to take questions, but the NPP voters appear to be important to Sanders. No Party Preference is the second most popular political label in California, trailing Democrats but ahead of Republicans in terms of voter registration. In all, the state has about 5.3 million voters who are registered as No Party Preference.

Getting at least some of those voters to weigh in for Democrats figures to be important for any winning candidate. Around noon, Sanders told the crowd that voter turnout, especially in California, is key to his victory in the state and, if he’s the candidate, in November.

“And if we win here in California we will win the Democratic nomination,” Sanders said. “And if we win the Democratic nomination, Donald Trump is a one term president.”

That prospect pleased many.

“If (people) actually take five minutes to listen to him, there’s a lot of logic to what he says,” said Mike Salas, a mechanical engineer from West Covina. “I think more people would be encouraged to vote for him.”

Salas said he is a registered Democrat who plans to vote for Sanders — who describes himself as a Democratic Socialist — because Sanders expresses a strong sense of urgency on climate change, which Salas believes other candidates are more passive about.

“I like his ideals,” said Ruben Barreto Segura, a construction worker from Huntington Beach. “He’s a candidate who can topple Trump.”

The registered Democrat said he likes that Sanders considers Americans of all races and ethnicities in his policy positions.

Sanders organizers also engaged in some ballot harvesting, collecting mail-in ballots filled out by people who attended the rally. The practice is legal in California, allowing a third party to collect filled-out ballots and deliver them to voting centers or mailboxes on behalf of any voter.

New voting centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties will open Saturday, Feb. 22, and will stay open through March 3.

The Santa Ana rally came on the heels of a contentious Democratic debate Wednesday in Las Vegas, where front-runner Sanders and newcomer candidate Michael Bloomberg were targeted by other candidates.

After the Santa Ana rally, Sanders went to a similar event in Bakersfield. While there, he acknowledged news reports, initially by The Washington Post, that he’s been told by U.S. intelligence officials that Russian operators are working to help boost his electoral chances.

CNN quoted Sanders as saying: “We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign. And, look, here’s the message to Russia: ‘Stay out of American elections’.”