For a year I supported both Warren and Sanders. Here’s why I’m now all in for Sanders. Andrew Goldstein Follow Jan 23 · 4 min read

For the last year or so, I’ve been dual supporting Warren and Sanders. Here’s why I’ve done that, and why and how I’ll be approaching the next few months differently. It’s a long post but I think the situation is complex and we need a nuanced approach, so I’m sharing in case it helps others frame their thinking and to spur action.

FIRST THINGS FIRST:

Please know that I will be working hard for whoever is the nominee, whether it’s Sanders or Warren or anyone, even people I am significantly criticizing now. That moment will be 3–6 months away, and when it comes I’ll be joining others able to transition from primary mode to beating Trump mode.

WHY HAD I SUPPORTED BOTH WARREN AND SANDERS?

It was a very crowded field. Better-than-Trump-but-still-dangerous ”moderates” like Biden, Buttigieg, and Harris had a majority of support in polls. They seemed more aligned with corporate interests, less likely to have the mass appeal necessary to beat Trump, and had inadequate plans for urgent crises like climate crisis and lack of healthcare (message me if you want articles on or to chat more about the dangers of moderate politics). It was early and I wanted as many progressives as possible as voices in debates, as the topic of news stories, and as options for people looking to support candidates (by progressive I mean the most likely to accomplish progress as a President, not just stated views or plans). I did so as insurance if either Warren or Sanders’s campaign flopped.

SUPPORTING BOTH WARREN AND SANDERS WAS GREAT!

I’m thrilled that over the course of a year, many moderates have dropped out, and many voters have become disillusioned with Biden and Buttigieg as individual candidates, and with moderate politics in general. I’m thrilled that support has grown for #MedicareForAll and a #GreenNewDeal and decriminalizing immigration and ending forever war. I’m thrilled that both Warren and Sanders’s campaigns have both grown and that broad progressive power has been built.

BUT NOW IS A NEW MOMENT

The next few months will be different. Soon we won’t just have debates, town halls, rallies, canvassing, phonebanking, and fundraising. We will have actual voting. Individuals will only get one vote, a delegate will only go to one candidate. The possibility of vote splitting is real. And so now I think we have 5 major goals: 1) get the candidate most able to beat Trump nominated, 2) get the most progressive candidate nominated, 3) prevent the primary from going to the convention, 4) ensure that if it goes to the convention we have the delegates such that a progressive candidate is the nominee not a moderate, and 5) that we continue to win the narrative and build power against moderates and neoliberalism, and for the movements and bold policies we urgently need.

HOW I WILL SPEND MY TIME AND ENGAGE WITH OTHERS

So with all that in mind:

I will be voting in the primary for Bernie Sanders.

I will be organizing, mobilizing voters, writing, and fundraising for Bernie Sanders.

I will be positively engaging any Sanders-curious people to learn more about their interests and explore if Sanders might be the best candidate for them to support.

I will still be engaging any people who are adamantly opposing Sanders. If they’re Warren-curious, I’ll encourage them to support Warren because Warren is my second preferred candidate, because the vote count for the progressive wing matters, and because if it comes down to the convention the combined Warren/Sanders delegates might be what gets one or the other across the line.

I will still criticize any and all candidates (including Sanders) in ways that can better the campaigns that want to improve, weaken campaigns stuck in wrongheadedness, and ensure long-term progressive wins.

I will be focused on supporting any individuals in deepening their civic habits (really, please reach out if you want support in being more active!).

I will be kind with any supporters of other candidates, and if they’re set on their candidate, won’t be debating or denigrating them (though I’m happy to chat!). I don’t want to cause harm or waste anyone’s time.

I will be clear about my commitment to unity during the general election and to working hard then for whomever.

WHY SANDERS?

I think he has a strong track record of truth-speaking, authenticity, and consistency. I think he has the correct theory of change, that the most important plan has more to do with organizing, people power-building, narrative-shifting, and supporting emerging and long-standing movements and leaders. I like that he has responded to criticism with substantial changes to his messaging, policy, and staffing, particularly around intersectionality and trade and militarism. I think he isn’t rigid but in fact learns the right lessons from the right people. I’ve loved working with the energetic, positive, and mission-driven health professionals showing up for Doctors for Bernie. I have deep respect for those who have endorsed him: the Sunrise Movement, the Center for Popular Democracy, People’s Action, National Nurses United, DSA, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib, Jayapal, Teachout, Khanna. I see the campaign’s awesome energy and moral clarity and how it is shifting the needle. Though people try to peg him as a too radical socialist, irrelevant beyond coastal cities, I see how Sanders is consistently polling the best against Trump, has the best geographic spread of donors including in swing states and Senate states, and is earning massive union support especially from teachers. So while I have serious respect for Warren and her supporters and would be very excited to vote for her in the general, this primary I am going to be working hard for Sanders to win. This campaign is resonating with and energizing me the most.

WRAP UP

So that’s where I’m at. I’d welcome your feedback. I’d welcome you holding me accountable. I hope you’ll join us to build people power with Sanders, but will still have deep love and respect for anyone working for Warren. I would love for others to share their nuanced and action-oriented approaches. And I hope this was helpful!