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.
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.
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.
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US
-
Trump vows to send federal forces to Chicago, Baltimore
Speed Read The announcement followed a California judge ruling that Trump's LA troop deployment was illegal
-
Trump crypto token launch earns family billions
Speed Read The World Liberty Financial token is now the Trump family's 'most valuable asset'
-
RFK Jr. names new CDC head as staff revolt
Speed Read Kennedy installed his deputy, Jim O'Neill, as acting CDC director
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer