Bernie Sanders, AOC switch ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ appearance from Auburn to Folsom
Outspoken progressives Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York are taking their anti-wealth disparity road tour to Folsom, a switch from the original location in Placer Country.
They will speak at the Folsom Lake College Athletic Track on April 15, after appearing in Los Angeles on April 12, as part of their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. The switch in location was announced on Wednesday.
The duo have, since this spring, held rallies across the country to harness populist anger at President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn approach to federal governance.
Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, represents New York’s 14th congressional district, which encompasses parts of Queens, the Bronx, and Westchester County. Sanders, 83, is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats. He said in December that his current term would “likely be my last” after serving in both chambers of Congress since 1991.
The tour has taken them not only to reliable blue enclaves but also conservative districts where Trump’s tariffs and mass federal jobs layoffs threaten to tank the local economy.
“From the very beginning, our progressive movement has been about bringing people together in solidarity and uniting around an agenda that works for ALL of us, not just the wealthy and powerful,” Sanders wrote in an email announcing the Folsom rally.
He previously held a rally in downtown Sacramento in August 2019 when he was seeking the 2020 presidential Democratic nomination.
“We are delighted that Bernie Sanders and AOC will meet with District 3 voters in Auburn, especially since our congressman, Kevin Kiley, refuses to meet with his constituents,” said Placer County Democratic Party 2nd Vice Chair Barbara Smith. “We expect answers, but Kiley has barely acknowledged our concerns, deflecting instead to practiced talking points. He should be embarrassed that his colleagues must do his work for him.”
The Democratic Party has been in a tailspin since it lost control of both Congress and the White House to Trump last November. A recent NBC poll put its approval rating at 27%, a historic low.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, rumored to be eyeing a run for president in 2028, has opted for a podcast to improve his party’s “toxic brand” as it tries to find its way out of the political wilderness ahead of the 2026 primaries.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM.
