Sanders brings his anti-oligarchy tour to Texas on Friday

Sen. Bernie Sanders will hold three rallies across Texas this weekend as part of his nationwide “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, marking the Vermont independent’s most ambitious push yet into reliably Republican territory.

Sanders is scheduled to speak Friday evening in McAllen, then hold back-to-back rallies Sunday in Amarillo and Fort Worth. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, will join all three events, while former Rep. Beto O’Rourke will appear at both Sunday rallies.

The Texas stops continue Sanders’ strategy of targeting conservative states and Republican-held congressional districts. In a recent video statement, Sanders said his tour focuses on areas “represented by Republicans” as part of efforts to build grassroots opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration.

“Most of these events will be held in congressional districts that are represented by Republicans,” Sanders said. “And there is a reason why we are doing that.”

The tour has drawn record-breaking crowds since launching earlier this year. Sanders’ April 12 rally in Los Angeles attracted 36,000 people, which his staff called his largest ever. A March 21 event in Denver drew more than 30,000 attendees, exceeding crowds from his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.

In Republican-leaning Folsom, California, more than 30,000 people attended an April rally, according to Sanders’ office and local officials. The senator has noted that his events across Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona produced combined attendance exceeding 100,000 people.

The Friday rally in McAllen begins at 7 p.m. at the McAllen Performing Arts Center. Sunday’s schedule includes an afternoon event starting at 2 p.m. at the Amarillo Civic Center, followed by an evening rally beginning at 6 p.m. at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

Musical guests are scheduled for each event, including Old 97’s at the Fort Worth rally.

Sanders, 83, has used the tour to criticize what he calls an “oligarchic form of society” under Trump’s administration, particularly targeting the influence of billionaire Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency.

“We are living in a moment of extraordinary danger,” Sanders told the Los Angeles crowd in April. “I’m no longer talking about how we’re moving to oligarchy. I’m talking about how we are living today in an oligarchic form of society.”

The Texas rallies represent Sanders’ first major organizing push in the state as part of the tour. Texas has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1976, though Democrats have made inroads in urban areas and suburbs in recent elections.

All events are free, though organizers require advance registration. Venue policies prohibit signs, flags, weapons and large bags.