Bernie Sanders’ Personal Life, Siblings, Parents, Wife, Girlfriend, Kids, Other Family and Dating History
Parents:
-
- Bernie Sanders was born on September 8, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York City.
- His father, Eli Sanders, was born in Słopnice, Poland, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is now in Poland.
- His mother, Dorothy Sanders, was born in New York City to Jewish parents.
Siblings:
-
- Bernie has an older brother named Larry Sanders. Larry is an American-British academic, social worker, politician, and former Health and Social Care Spokesperson of the Green Party of England and Wales.
Wife:
-
- Bernie Sanders has been married to Jane O’Meara Sanders since May 28, 1988.
- Jane has been a supportive partner throughout his political career, also including his campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Children:
-
- Bernie and Jane have four children together: Levi, Heather, Carina, and David.
Dating History:
-
- Before Jane, Bernie was married to Deborah Shiling and also dated Susan Campbell Mott, with whom he had his only biological child, Levi Sanders.
Personal Life
Bernard “Bernie” Sanders was born on September 8, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Eli Sanders and Dorothy Glassberg, were Jewish immigrants from Poland and Russia, respectively. Sanders attended James Madison High School in Brooklyn and later studied at Brooklyn College.
His interest in politics and social justice also began during his college years. Sanders moved to Vermont in the early 1960s and became involved in civil rights activism. He was a member of the Liberty Union Party and also ran for various political offices, including governor and senator, as a third-party candidate.
Career
In 1981, he was elected as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, serving four terms. His progressive policies gained attention nationally. He served in the House until 2007, advocating for universal healthcare, workers’ rights, and environmental protection. In 2006, he won a seat in the U.S. Senate, where he has also remained since. Sanders also ran for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020.
His campaigns focused on income inequality, healthcare reform, and free college education. Although he didn’t secure the nomination, he significantly influenced the party’s platform.
He advocates for a single-payer healthcare system, raising the minimum wage, and addressing climate change. His democratic socialist views have also shaped his political identity. Sanders married Jane O’Meara Driscoll in 1988. Jane has been an educator, social worker, and political adviser.