AOC to Join Bernie Sanders’ ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Tour in Western States
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is set to join Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on five stops of his ongoing “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, which aims to rally working-class Americans against economic inequality and corporate influence in politics.
Sanders, a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, launched the tour last month in the Midwest, drawing thousands of attendees across Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The campaign-style events focus on economic justice, healthcare, and the growing wealth gap in the United States.
Upcoming Tour Stops
Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) will join Sanders on Thursday, March 20, at the East Las Vegas Community Center for a 1:30 PM event. Later that evening, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez will address a crowd at Arizona State University in Tempe at 6:00 PM.
The tour continues on Friday with stops at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley at 1:00 PM and Civic Center Park in Denver at 5:00 PM. The final event, scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 AM, will take place at Catalina High School in Tucson, Arizona, and will feature Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (D-Texas).
Addressing Economic Inequality and Political Challenges
Sanders has framed the tour as a call to action against the influence of billionaires in American politics. “Today, the oligarchs and the billionaire class are getting richer and richer and have more and more power,” Sanders said in a recent statement. “Meanwhile, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and most of our people are struggling to pay for healthcare, childcare, and housing. This country belongs to all of us, not just the few. We must fight back.”
Ocasio-Cortez echoed his sentiments, particularly in response to recent legislative battles. “While Republicans try to gut Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, people across the country are standing up against these attacks on the working class,” she said. “They deserve representation that is willing to stand with them. I look forward to hitting the road with Sen. Sanders.”
Political Context and Controversy
The tour coincides with major developments in Washington, including a contentious stopgap spending bill that has drawn criticism from progressive lawmakers. Ten Senate Democrats, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), recently supported the measure, prompting backlash from some on the left who argue it strengthens the political influence of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
The bill’s passage has reignited calls for new progressive leadership, with some activists urging Ocasio-Cortez to challenge Schumer in the 2028 Democratic primary—an idea she has not dismissed outright.
Meanwhile, Trump has sparked fresh controversy with a speech at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he was accused of undermining judicial independence and calling for aggressive legal action against his opponents. His administration also made headlines over the weekend with military action in Yemen and the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, a centuries-old law historically used for mass deportations.
A Progressive Roadmap for Change
Sanders, in a recent message to supporters, underscored the need for grassroots mobilization to counter corporate power and authoritarian tendencies in government.
“There must be meetings and rallies in all 50 states, and they should take place over and over again. And when those rallies are over, we need to organize the people who attend to mobilize in their communities and be in touch with their members of Congress,” Sanders wrote.
He emphasized the importance of down-ballot elections, urging progressives to run for local offices such as school boards, city councils, and state legislatures.
“We need to build community and bring people together even when it isn’t about politics first. The Republican Party is always trying to divide us up based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and more… we need to come together as one,” he continued. “We need to elect a U.S. House and a U.S. Senate that will prioritize the needs of the working people in this country.”
As the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour heads west, Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez hope to energize a new wave of progressive activism, setting the stage for a larger political battle ahead.
