Progressive Representatives Rally Huge Crowds in Conservative States
In recent events, progressive politicians have garnered significant attention, drawing large audiences in traditionally conservative states such as Idaho and Utah as part of the nationwide Fighting Oligarchy Tour.
The Fighting Oligarchy Tour, spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has captured widespread attention for its ability to attract substantial crowds in various cities, including those in staunchly red states. A recent poll released on Monday reinforces that their message advocating for the working class is gaining traction across the United States. Conducted by Harvard’s Center for American Political Studies and Harris from April 9-10, the survey indicates that 72% of Democratic voters favor politicians like Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez who urge the Democratic Party to adopt a more assertive position against President Donald Trump and his policies, rather than opting for compromise.
Only 28% of Democratic voters prefer a more moderate stance. Across the political spectrum, support for politicians willing to collaborate with Trump has slightly decreased, with 53% favoring cooperation, a drop of two percentage points from the previous month’s Harvard/Harris poll.
The release of the poll coincided with a rally in Nampa, Idaho, where Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders criticized insider trading among Congress members, targeted billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency for federal job and spending cuts impacting Idaho’s recreational and veterans’ healthcare sectors. They also championed the cause for government-run healthcare—a policy heavily favored by most Democratic voters in the U.S., despite reluctance from many party leaders to prioritize it.
Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders emphasized that their advocacy for government-run healthcare and opposition to billionaire influence in U.S. politics are not issues exclusive to the political left. “We’re here to flip this state,” stated Ocasio-Cortez, who has been in office since 2019 following her unexpected primary win over longtime Representative Joe Crowley. “We might all come from different places, but we share so many of the same experiences.”
Sanders further dismissed the divisive notion of “blue states and red states,” asserting, “We are one people.” The rally in Idaho was notably packed, with the Ford Idaho Center reaching its full capacity of 12,500 attendees, as confirmed by the venue’s general manager.
This enthusiasm was mirrored in Salt Lake City, where over 20,000 individuals filled the Huntsman Center, and an additional 4,000 gathered in an overflow area to hear Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez address issues such as extreme wealth inequality and the toxic divisiveness necessary for its perpetuation. They called for a fair economy that respects working people and the democratic freedoms that support it. “So many of us know what it feels like for life to be one bad day away from falling apart. And we don’t have to live like this anymore, Utah!” Ocasio-Cortez exclaimed. “We can make a new world, a better country where we fight for the dignity of all people.”
Last month, Denver’s Civic Center Park saw about 30,000 attendees at a rally, following a 10,000-strong crowd in Greeley, Colorado. Large turnouts were also recorded in Nebraska, Iowa, and Michigan. The tour’s strategy starkly contrasts with the more conservative approaches of Democratic leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who have been criticized for their decisions since Trump’s presidency began.
While Ocasio-Cortez was overlooked for a prominent role on the powerful House Oversight Committee, Basil Smikle, former executive director of the New York State Democratic Party, told The Hill that the congresswoman “represents the next generation of Democratic politics.” He noted, “She is signaling the need for a generational shift in the party’s leadership and its messaging to voters,” a move she initiated during her campaign against Joe Crowley.
Recent polls continue to show Ocasio-Cortez’s growing influence. A Data for Progress survey released just ten days ago showed her leading Senator Schumer by 19 points in a hypothetical 2028 U.S. Senate primary in New York. Additionally, an Echelon Insights poll on potential Democratic presidential nominees for 2028 places former Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead, with Senator Cory Booker and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also notable contenders. Ocasio-Cortez is polling ahead of other Democrats considered possible future presidential candidates, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
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