Bernie Sanders becomes first Jewish, non-Christian candidate to win U.S. primary

Bernie Sanders made Jewish-American history on Tuesday night

(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

published 10 February 2016

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) may or may not make history as the first self-described democratic socialist to win a major party's nomination, but he already notched a famous first on Tuesday night, becoming the first Jewish candidate — and the first non-Christian — to win a presidential primary. Sanders has been projected to easily beat Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire's Democratic primary, just nine days after coming in a close second in the Iowa caucuses (where Sanders was the first Jewish candidate to win delegates in a presidential primary, something Joe Lieberman never achieved).

And those aren't the first bits of history made in this unusual presidential race, just two contests into the election.

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Since Lieberman's dance on the national stage an African American was elected president, a Mormon won the Republican nomination, and a woman is widely viewed as the favorite to win in 2016. Suddenly the whole first-Jewish-president thing seems like a yawner. There is also the fact that Lieberman wore his Judaism like a yarmulke. He proudly put his faith front and center while embracing the role of religious trailblazer and Jewish role model. Sanders, not so much. [JTA]

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.