Bernie Sanders' 2020 team is reportedly 'eyeing Beto O’Rourke nervously'


Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is reportedly weeks ahead of launching his 2020 presidential campaign and sees a clear pathway to victory. But there's one potential competitor that's making his staffers nervous.
The Atlantic reported Friday that ahead of a planned February campaign launch, Sanders' 2020 team "has been eyeing Beto O'Rourke nervously, given the former Texas congressman’s strong online presence and appeal with many of the same types of voters that he taps into." This concern likely isn't unfounded; The New York Times reported in December on a number of Sanders 2016 staffers who in 2020 were eager to instead get behind a potential O'Rourke bid, for example.
But The Atlantic writes that within Sanders' inner circle, "there's a sense that O'Rourke's support is flagging, as he continues to talk about running without making a decision." The most recent update from O'Rourke came this week when he told Oprah Winfrey in an interview he's thinking about running and will decide this month, per CNN.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
One candidate Sanders isn't worried about, though? Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), as The Atlanticreports that "Sanders and his aides have always seen him as a greater threat to her than she is to him."
Warren is still technically in the exploratory committee phase of her 2020 bid but is likely to officially announce her campaign on Feb. 9. Sanders, Friday's report says, is expected to launch his own White House bid with an exploratory committee before the end of the month — at least, "barring a surprise last minute change of heart." Read more at The Atlantic.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Judge orders US to recall deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration has been ordered to retrieve one of the migrants it sent to a prison in El Salvador due to an 'administrative error'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump calls tariffs 'medicine' as stocks plunge
Speed Read 'Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something,' the president said of his imposed 10% tariffs on imported goods
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump axes NSA head, NSC staff after Loomer advice
Speed Read On the recommendation of Laura Loomer, Trump fired the head of the National Security Agency and several National Security Council officials
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump says tariffs 'going very well' as markets fall
speed read US financial markets had their biggest one-day drop since the advent of Covid-19
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump rolls out tariffs on virtually all imports
Speed Read On "Liberation Day," Trump announced a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to America and higher reciprocal tariffs for some 60 other countries
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sen. Booker's 25-hour speech beats Thurmond
Speed Read He spoke for the longest time in recorded Senate history, protesting the Trump administration's policies
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bondi seeks death penalty for Luigi Mangione
Speed Read Mangione was charged with fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats win costly Wisconsin court seat
Speed Read Democrats prevailed in an election for the Wisconsin Supreme Court despite Elon Musk's robust financial support of the Republican candidate
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published