Fighting Oligarchy tour

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) andBernie Sanders (right) on the tour atMullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona
Date	February 22, 2025 – present
Location	United States
Type	Political rally tour
Cause	Opposition tooligarchy andcorporate influence in politics
Website	berniesanders.com/fighting-oligarchy-tour

TheFighting Oligarchy Tour, sometimes subtitledWhere We Go from Here,^[1] is a series of Americanpolitical rallies led byindependent^[a] U.S. senatorBernie Sanders andDemocratic U.S. representativeAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

It began on February 21, 2025, inOmaha, Nebraska, with the stated goal to opposeoligarchy and the influence of billionaires and big corporations in U.S. politics.^[2] A segment covering the western U.S. began on March 20 inLas Vegas, Nevada.^[3] 34,000 people attended a March 21 rally inDenver, Colorado, bigger than any event held by theDemocratic Party at the time, and with a bigger audience than any during Sanders's two presidential campaigns. This was followed by a crowd of 36,000 inLos Angeles, California, on April 12. The tour has featured speeches, musical performances, and efforts to promote policies such asuniversal healthcare andwealth taxation.

Sanders launched the tour afterDonald Trump's reelection in November 2024, which Sanders cited as evidence of growing corporate influence in governance.^[4] Joined by Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive figures, Sanders aimed to addresseconomic inequality and political power dynamics.^[5]

The tour focuses on opposition tooligarchy, characterized as a system where a small, wealthyelite holds significant sway over political and economic matters. Speakers address topics such asincome disparity,corporate lobbying, anddemocratic integrity, advocating reforms includingMedicare for All, awealth tax, and changes tocampaign finance laws.^[6] The events also encouragegrassroots participation in local and electoral efforts.^[7] Other goals include transforming theDemocratic Party to bring it closer to its "FDR-era roots" in an effort to make it more popular, and pressuringRepublican lawmakers in battleground districts to reject Republican fiscal plans such as cuts toMedicaid andtax cuts for the wealthy.^[5]

On April 12, 2025, Sanders appeared on the Outdoor Stage atCoachella 2025 to introduceClairo to a crowd of 36,000 people.^[73]

Musical performances have accompanied many of the tour's rallies.Laura Jane Grace and duo Kinsella & Pulse LLC performed at the March 7 event in Kenosha, Wisconsin, andPoliça opened for the March 8 event in Altoona. During the March 8 rally in Warren, Michigan, hardcore punk bandthe Armed performed, beginning their set with a cover ofthe Stooges' "Search And Destroy".^[74] Indie rock bandCalexico introduced the March 22 event in Tucson.^[6]Neil Young took the stage during the April 12 rally in Los Angeles, which also featured performances byJeff Rosenstock,Dirty Projectors,Indigo De Souza, the Red Pears, and Raise Gospel Choir. Young led a "Take America Back" chant, then played his song "Rainbow of Colors" and a solo rendition of "Rockin' in the Free World" on electric guitar, accompanied byJoan Baez andMaggie Rogers.^[75] Talia Keys andI Dont Know How but They Found Me played at the April 13 Salt Lake City rally.^[76]

For his walk-on song, Sanders usesJohn Lennon's "Power to the People",^[77] as he did in his presidential campaigns of2016 and2020.^[78]

As of April 12, 2025^[update], the tour had drawn over 107,000 attendees across various states.^[79] According to the ongoing chart of rallies in this article, as of November 17, 2025 the tour has drawn 261,100 attendees. On March 26,Politico reported that the Fighting Oligarchy rallies were "bigger than any other events currently being held by Democrats" and that they were acting as a "revival" forprogressives. Sanders said that two-thirds of those who registered to attend the events had never gone to see him or donated to him before.^[5] The crowd at the Denver rally was larger than at any event during his2016 and2020 presidential runs.^[3] These numbers contrasted with lowapproval ratings for theDemocratic Party.^[5]

The tour facilitated grassroots organizing, including volunteer recruitment and support for progressive candidates.^[80] Progressives supported the tour for engaging supporters and focusing on corporate influence, while media outlets, includingThe New York Times, observed similarities to historical protest movements such asOccupy Wall Street.^[81]

Some members of the Democratic establishment supported the rallies, including some who had previously criticized Sanders; a vice chair of theDemocratic National Committee,Malcolm Kenyatta, said: "This is not left versus right. This is aboutflight versus fight." Kenyatta had criticized Sanders in the past.^[5]

On May 7, 2025,Fox News hostBret Baier asked Sanders about an April 17, 2025,Washington Free Beacon article that said that Sanders's campaign committee had used $221,723 in expenditures in the first quarter of 2025 to charter private jets. Sanders replied that when doing multiple rallies per week, "the only way you can get around" in a timely enough manner is by chartering private jets.^[82]

• Bernie Sanders
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
• 2025 in American politics
• 2025 in women's history
• Democratic Party (United States) events
• Protest marches in the United States

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