On Sunday morning, the Stanford Democrats (SDs) canvassed for Rep. Aisha Wahab alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders in Livermore, Calif. During the rally, Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal both spoke in support of Wahab, a left-wing candidate who campaigns for corporate restrictions and affordable healthcare. Wahab is running for re-election to represent California’s 14th congressional district at the U.S. House.
Stanford Democrats co-president Waleed Haider ’29 organized the trip, as part of SDs’ mission to promote the significance of on-the-ground political action. The event saw Dems canvas in local neighborhoods.
“We believe that students should not just be doing white-collar campaign work. We think we can best serve our communities when we’re willing to roll up our sleeves, knock on doors, and sweat a little bit to actually get things done,” Haider said. “We filled up way more sign-ups than we even had transportation available to students because they’re so galvanized by what’s happening right now in our country.”
During the event, Wahab spoke about the wealth gap, minority rights, the power of the working class and her desire to fight for the American dream. She called the actions of the current administration “absolutely un-American” and labeled Sanders “our North Star.” Wahab promised to ensure that “the golden age of America is our future” through economic and medical affordability.
The event drew local residents, students and labor groups. Brenda Okoli-Ugbiyobo, an executive board member of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015 — California’s largest labor union — was one such attendee. She said she attended the rally because she believed Sanders and Wahab stand for similar causes to SEIU 2015, such as fairness, equal care, senior rights and disability rights.
Okoli-Ugbiyobo emphasized the change-making power of in-person youth campaigning. “I’m 72. I have never seen this much hatred in this country outside of slavery. Oh, we’re gonna have a comeback, but it’s got to be from the younger generation,” Okoli-Ugbiyobo said. “I know about Stanford. I’ve had family members graduate from Stanford. If you’re so high on that mountain, a lot of people are not gonna feel what we feel every day… You’ve got to go down there where the real people are.”
Sanders similarly underscored the importance of canvassing and student civic engagement in an interview with The Daily. He highlighted the “profound role in transforming national policy” that “young people throughout our history have played.” Calling back to the widespread student-led Vietnam War protests of his own youth, Sanders urged American youth to “get active” and “fight for the kind of government and economy that works for all, not just a few.”
“I worry very much about your generation,” Sanders said, citing the job market, climate change and the rapid development of AI as major concerns for American youth. He described current billionaire-backed opposition funding as anti-democratic and championed face-to-face grassroots organization instead. “Young people are a progressive generation, but they’re not voting in large enough numbers, so they’ve got to bring their friends out.”
Sanders also advocated for Proposition 40, which aims to implement a one-time 5% wealth tax on the ultra-wealthy in California.
“California is the center of technology innovation in America. And I don’t think the billionaires are going to go,” Sanders said. He described billionaires threatening to leave the state as “a form of blackmail and extortion.”
“In other words, they’re saying, ‘Well, I don’t care if kids get sick and can’t go to a doctor. It’s more important for us to get even richer. And if you stand up to us, we’re gonna punish you,’” Sanders said. “What they’re doing is like me putting a gun to your head. Give me your wallet for your life. That’s not fair. That’s unacceptable. We cannot tolerate that blackmail. You’ve got to stand up to them.”