This archive report was first published on 25 December 2019.
California's 40 million residents have long been considered a daunting challenge for presidential campaigns, but Bernie Sanders' team is taking a different approach in 2020.
According to Mr. Jones-Sawyer, a California state assemblyman, Sanders personally reached out to him before the 2016 campaign, but his district's needs were not adequately addressed. However, after re-examining Sanders' criminal justice plan, Jones-Sawyer found it to be a good fit for South L.A.
Former Sanders' deputy field director Javier Gonzalez noted that the 2020 operation is more professional compared to the 2016 campaign, which was a mix of experienced operatives and newcomers.
“I would imagine Bernie had a lot more high-level applicants this time. We were making half the stuff up as we went along,” Gonzalez said.
With lessons learned from the 2016 campaign, Sanders' team is looking to improve their chances in California. The state's unique voting system, which allows voters to cast ballots by mail as soon as the day after Iowa's caucuses, may also play a role in the campaign's strategy.
As billionaire candidates Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg test the waters with heavy spending, Sanders' team is looking to adapt and innovate in the Golden State.
