Levi Sanders, the son of the well-known political figure Bernie Sanders, has lived a life intertwined with the public eye, yet remains a figure shrouded in mystery. His journey from childhood to adulthood reveals not just the challenges of being the son of a prominent politician, but also the struggles he faced in carving out his own identity. As Levi navigated through his father's political legacy, he encountered his own trials and triumphs, showcasing a unique story that many may not know.
Born on March 21, 1969, Levi Noah Sanders is the only biological child of Bernie Sanders and his first partner, Susan Campbell Mott. From a young age, he was exposed to the world of politics, often accompanying his father during his early political ventures. However, despite the political lineage, Levi's personal life and experiences reveal a more complex narrative, one that merges familial expectations with his individual ambitions.
As we delve deeper into the life of Levi Sanders, we uncover not only his familial ties but also the challenges he faced, including his attempts to follow in his father's footsteps in the political arena. This exploration will shed light on the untold aspects of his life, giving readers a comprehensive understanding of who Levi Sanders truly is beyond his father's shadow.
Table of Contents
- Biography
- Who is Levi Sanders' real mom?
- Levi Sanders' childhood was 'stark and dark'
- Bernie Sanders immersed Levi Sanders in politics at a young age
- Levi Sanders has worked for his father since 2006
- Bernie Sanders' son tried to follow in his footsteps — with no luck
- Levi Sanders didn't give up in the face of political defeat
- What's up with Levi Sanders' 'extremely mad' social media posts?
- Levi Sanders tragically lost his wife
Biography
| Full Name | Levi Noah Sanders |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 21, 1969 |
| Parents | Bernie Sanders, Susan Campbell Mott |
| Step-Siblings | Heather, Carina, David (from father's marriage to Jane O'Meara) |
Who is Levi Sanders' real mom?
According to Bustle, when CNN first published a list of "Bernie Sanders Fast Facts" back in 2015, it noted that the US Senator had one biological child, son Levi Sanders, with his first wife Deborah Messing (née Shiling). A few months later, however, Politico reporter Michael Kruse unearthed a "little known fact" about Levi's actual biological mother.
While investigating Bernie for an in-depth profile, Kruse discovered that Levi's mom is really Susan Campbell Mott. Bernie spokesman Michael Briggs confirmed that fact, also noting that Bernie and Deborah got "a Mexican divorce" before the politician moved in with Susan.
As the Daily Mail learned by looking at various public records, Bernie and Deborah called it quits in 1966 after just 18 months of marriage. He then began dating Susan, and the couple had Levi Noah Sanders on March 21, 1969, at Brightlook Hospital in St. Johnsbury, Vt. The outlet was unable to find any records showing Bernie and Susan ever having tied the knot. Unfortunately, the relationship wasn't meant to be. In 1988, Bernie married Jane O'Meara and gave Levi three step-siblings when he became stepdad to O'Meara's children — Heather, Carina, and David.
Levi Sanders' childhood was 'stark and dark'
In a 2015 profile titled "Bernie Sanders Has a Secret," Politico was able to gain some rare insight into Bernie’s early life and, as a result, into Levi's childhood. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Bernie originally moved to Vermont with his first wife. By the time Levi was born, the state had become Bernie’s home.
On March 17, 1969, he purchased a house with girlfriend Susan Campbell Mott in the tiny town of Stannard (it had a population of less than 200) and just four days later, Levi was born. When the couple split, they "shared custody" of Levi through "an informal agreement," and, according to one source, Levi’s mom "was around a lot."
Meanwhile, Levi and his dad moved into a small duplex located at 295 1/2 Maple Street in Burlington. According to friends and family, the house was sparsely furnished and the fridge was usually pretty empty. What they did have was an abundance of was "checked-out library books and scribbled-on legal pads." Levi, who apparently called Bernie 'Bernard' rather than 'Dad,' had to deal with a home life that was "stark and dark," according to one source. As Bernie’s friend Nancy Barnett told the outlet, "The electricity was turned off a lot. I remember him running an extension cord down to the basement. He couldn’t pay his bills." No matter how many odd jobs he worked, from carpentry to freelance writing, and despite that fact that Bernie would eventually earn millions, he was "always poor" while raising Levi.
Bernie Sanders immersed Levi Sanders in politics at a young age
It seems that Levi Sanders has been around politics from the moment he was born. In fact, according to Politico, he was on hand when his dad's political career first began, even though he was just two years old at the time.
It was October 23, 1971, and Bernie Sanders was attending a meeting of the anti-war Liberty Union Party at Plainfield, Vt.'s Goddard College. The Party was searching for someone to run for the Senate, and, according to Politico, they were pretty desperate when a 30-year-old Bernie volunteered. He reportedly "had thick-rimmed glasses and dark, curly hair, and his toddler son, Levi (pronounced LEH-vee), was seated in his lap" when he "raised his hand" to participate.
As party member John Bloch recalled, "We didn’t have a lot of choices, and he was willing to do it," so he got the gig without much questioning. As Martha Abbott, another party member, added, "Liberty Union was running anybody and everybody they could find." And it was clear at the time that Bernie wasn’t even close to the hard-charging revolutionary he would later become. According to Liberty Union Party founder Peter Diamondstone, Bernie’s reason for raising his hand that night? "You know what? I’ll try it. What do I have to do?" he reportedly said. Quite a start for a potential presidential path, huh?
Levi Sanders has worked for his father since 2006
Given that he was there on the day when Bernie Sanders made his first foray into the political arena, it’s perhaps no surprise that Levi Sanders has gone on to help his dad’s career every step of the way. According to his LinkedIn profile, Levi first worked as a consultant on Bernie’s senate campaign in 2006 before graduating to senior policy strategist for Bernie’s 2016 presidential campaign.
It’s a role he reprised in 2020, which put him in charge of "legal and policy position analysis for social security, housing, health, and other campaign initiatives." According to his LinkedIn, he’s "responsible for debate preparation and East Coast campaign fundraising efforts" and considers himself to have a "proven track record in electoral politics, fundraising, grassroots organizing, and building strong community relationships."
Levi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in History, which he obtained from the University of Oregon in 1992. Prior to joining his father’s campaigns, he was a general manager for the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf from 1994 to 2000. Since 2000, he’s been balancing his work on his father’s political campaigns with a role as Social Security Senior Legal Analyst for Cambridge & Somerville Legal Services. There, he works as an advocate for health and disability cases and "represents clients in cases at initial, denial, reconsideration, administrative law, and appeals council level."
Bernie Sanders' son tried to follow in his footsteps — with no luck
While helping his father reach his political aspirations,
