Populism in America: A Mixed-method Analysis of Bernie Sanders use of Left-wing Populist Rhetoric to Mobilize Economically Marginalized Voters

Political rhetoric is often used by political elites to drive home a specific message and mobilize supporters to get out and vote. Interestingly, the United States is in the midst of growing populist communication, especially in the world of social media. President Donald Trump’s use of Twitter to disseminate populist rhetoric that motivates his base through themes of economic disenfranchisement and racial resentment is largely considered to be a predominant reason for his unexpected victory in 2016. Yet less research has been done to understand how Senator Bernie Sanders’ political tweets also used populist messages to mobilize supporters. Through a unique analysis of Sanders’ and Trump’s Tweets, I argue that both candidates engage in populist rhetoric to mobilize their respective bases. Using 2016 ANES data, I argue that Bernie Sanders used comparable political communication and campaign positions to engage a similar, but ideologically left-leaning base of disenfranchised voters. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, I find that voters with characteristics most likely to be attracted to his brand of populism support him. Sanders voters stand in contrast to those who are mobilized by Trump and his brand of populism – a brand rooted in racial rather than class resentment. This approach provides a unique opportunity to peer into how candidate’s utilize social media to engage with their supporters, adding new scholarship to the political behavior literature.