Decrying ‘oligarchy,’ Bernie Sanders campaigns in NC Democratic primary
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sanders campaigned in Durham decrying oligarchy and corporate influence.
- He reiterated support for Nida Allam and urged voters to back her.
- Allam criticizes Valerie Foushee PAC donations, including defense contractor money.
Speaking to a crowd of over 1,000 in Durham on Friday, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders decried income inequality and corporate influence as he campaigned for a progressive challenger to an incumbent North Carolina congresswoman.
“We’re here in Durham to say loudly and clearly that we believe in democracy,” he said. “Not billionaires buying elections, not efforts to divide us up — we’re going to bring our people together in the fight for economic, racial, social and environmental justice.”
During Friday’s rally, Sanders reiterated his support for Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam, who is running against U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee in the Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District.
“We need somebody new because these are unprecedented and difficult times in America,” Sanders told The News & Observer after the rally. “Trump is an authoritarian. Trump is busy giving huge tax breaks to billionaires and throwing working people off their health care. I think right now what we need are fighters, people who really have a history of standing up to oligarchy, standing up the powerful special interests — and I think that’s Nida.”
Allam,a 32-year-old progressive activist, joined Sanders at the rally and urged attendees to support her primary campaign against Foushee, who is 69 and has the backing of the state’s top Democrats.
“What we’re up against is not just the authoritarian Trump regime or the billionaire class drunk on their own greed,” Allam said. “What we’re up against is the corporate interests that have come to dominate our own party. My opponent may be a Democrat, but she’s cashing checks from all the same companies as a MAGA Republican.”
When Allam and Foushee first ran against each other in 2022, the race became the most expensive Democratic primary in North Carolina history after pro-Israel PACs and Sam Bankman Fried, the cryptocurrency billionaire who was later convicted of fraud, funnelled millions toward Foushee’s campaign.
Foushee has pledged not to take donations from AIPAC this election, but she has continued to take contributions from PACs aligned with major corporations, including defense contractors like Lockheed Martin.
Foushee has defended her record, telling The N&O in an interview that “no corporation has impacted my votes.” She is also member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and said of her opponent: “I was a progressive before she was born.”
Friday’s rally was part of Sanders’ nationwide “Fighting Oligarchy tour. The Vermont senator, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, has travelled across the country since the inauguration of President Donald Trump to give speeches against corporate influence and support local progressive candidates.
The rally also featured speeches from Braxton Winston, president of the NC AFL-CIO, and Wesley Knott, chair of the Wake County Democratic Party — both of whom endorsed Allam.
“I know I’m not supposed to say this as the chair of a county party, but I’m gonna be honest: I had started to lose faith in this party,” Knott said. “... But when I heard Nida was running, I felt that hope stirring up in my soul again. And y’all, for the first time in a long time, I’m feeling hopeful again.”
Leading up to the event, hundreds of attendees lined up outside the Durham Convention Center.
Kate and Jim Ford, a Durham couple, told The N&O they’ve been fans of Sanders since his 2016 presidential campaign.
“I think it’s great that he stands his ground and is open about every everything that happens,” Kate Ford said. “And the fact that he’s touring like this, he’s trying to get the word out — and he’s really trying to make a difference.”
The Fords said they weren’t familiar with Allam, but were excited to hear her speak and planned to vote following the rally.
Trump visited North Carolina at the same time as Sanders, speaking to soldiers at Fort Bragg.
This story was originally published February 13, 2026 at 12:53 PM.
