Bernie Sanders Backs Mayoral Candidate Who Declared ‘I Am Antifa’

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the runner-up to the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, has endorsed Portland mayoral candidate Sarah Ianarrone, a far-left challenger to Ted Wheeler who has previously described herself as “Antifa.”

Sanders revealed he was backing Iannarone in a Thursday addendum to his down-ballot endorsement list. The intro to the list reads in part: “We need to continue building and strengthening our movement from the ground up by electing more progressives to state and local positions. Because the truth is that the victories we accomplish in this election will lay the groundwork for the future of our political revolution.”

After the endorsement, Ianarrone responded: “I’m excited to work on behalf of the 99% to hold big corporations accountable and to fight for health care, a green new deal, and better public safety for all Portlanders and everyone across the country. Thank you.”

Iannarone has described herself as “antifa” in tweets, and as “antifascist” during an interview where she argued that “being opposed to fascism should not be something that people shy away from in 2020.” In the same interview, she also said that she condemns violence, and “believes that violence is bad no matter who’s doing it.”

Iannarone also appears to hold sympathetic views toward communists. Gregory McKelvey, her campaign manager, admitted last year that he considers himself a communist. And earlier this month, journalist Andy Ngo posted a photo of Iannarone wearing a skirt with images of communist leaders on it, including Argentinian revolutionary figure Che Guevera and Chinese dictator Mao Zedong.