# Bernie Sanders

U.S. Senator, Vermont. TIME100 AI 2026, Shapers. He worked as a carpenter and writer and lost two Senate races in the 1970s before becoming the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders))

- Born: 1941-09-08, Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. ([bioguide.congress.gov](https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000033), [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders))
- Education: University of Chicago, 1964; attended, no degree, Brooklyn College ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders), [bioguide.congress.gov](https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000033))
- Career: U.S. Senate (U.S. Senator from Vermont, 2007 to now); U.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Representative, Vermont at-large, 1991–2007); Hamilton College (Lecturer, 1990); Harvard University (Lecturer, 1989); City of Burlington (Mayor, 1981–1989) ([bioguide.congress.gov](https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000033), [sanders.senate.gov](https://www.sanders.senate.gov/about-bernie/))
- TIME profile: https://time.com/collection/time100-ai/2026/bernie-sanders/
- Profile: https://www.autumn.ai/resources/most-influential-people-in-ai/bernie-sanders

- Worked as a carpenter and as a journalist before entering elected office. ([bioguide.congress.gov](https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000033))
- Lost independent runs for the U.S. Senate in 1972 and 1974, then won the Burlington mayor's race in 1981 and was reelected three times. ([bioguide.congress.gov](https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000033))
- As a University of Chicago student he organized protests for CORE and SNCC during the civil rights movement. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders))
- Is the longest-serving independent in U.S. congressional history, with 16 years in the House before moving to the Senate. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders))
- In 1991 he and five other House members co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders))