Symone Sanders

Symone Sanders is an American political strategist, commentator, and advisor known for her work with national Democratic campaigns, media commentary, and advocacy on voting rights and criminal justice reform. She gained prominence as a senior spokesperson for the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders and later served as the national press secretary and chief spokesperson for the presidential campaign of Kamala Harris and as a senior advisor in the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign. Sanders has been a frequent contributor on major broadcast and cable networks and a commentator on subjects including electoral politics, policy debates, and civil rights.

Early life and education

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Sanders grew up in a family with ties to Nebraska and later relocated to Colorado during her youth. She attended Aurora Central High School before matriculating at Wesleyan University, where she studied government and political science and became involved with campus chapters connected to national organizations. During college, she interned with offices and campaigns associated with figures from the Democratic Party and participated in civic engagement programs linked to groups such as College Democrats of America and constituency organizations that interact with institutions like Congress and state legislatures. After graduation, Sanders moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue work in communications and public affairs with firms and nonprofit organizations that engage with federal policy and national campaigns.

Political career

Sanders's early professional work included roles in advocacy and communications for campaigns and elected officials within the Democratic Party infrastructure. She was a staffer and surrogate for the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders, serving as a national spokesperson and traveling surrogate at rallies in states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada. After 2016, she joined the national press operation for the presidential campaign of Kamala Harris and later became national press secretary for the Joe Biden 2020 campaign when Harris was chosen as the vice presidential nominee. In these capacities she coordinated messaging across media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, and worked with campaign teams, political action committees, and allied organizations like MoveOn.org and state Democratic committees. Sanders has also engaged with institutions such as the Democratic National Committee and has participated in post-election transition planning activities related to the White House and executive branch agencies.

Media and communications career

Following her campaign work, Sanders built a profile as a political commentator and media strategist. She was a paid contributor on CNN and a guest on programs on networks including CBS News, ABC News, NBC News, and MSNBC, offering analysis on elections, judicial confirmations, and legislative battles in venues like C-SPAN and late-night talk formats. Sanders authored opinion pieces and appeared on panels with journalists from outlets such as The Atlantic, Politico, The New Yorker, and Vox. She also launched and hosted podcasts and digital series featuring interviews with figures from the United States Senate, the House of Representatives, civil rights leaders, and policy experts from organizations like the ACLU and think tanks including the Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress. Her communications work extended to advisory roles with corporations, nonprofits, and advocacy coalitions that engage with electoral coalitions, coalition-building groups, and voter mobilization efforts in battleground states.

Advocacy and public positions

Sanders has been vocal on issues such as voting rights, criminal justice reform, racial equity, and reproductive rights, aligning publicly with advocacy groups like the NAACP, Black Lives Matter, and organizations focused on electoral participation such as Fair Fight Action and the League of Women Voters. She has commented on Supreme Court confirmation battles involving justices from nominations under administrations of Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, and has weighed in on legislative debates in the United States Congress concerning federal voting legislation and criminal sentencing reform. Sanders has participated in forums with leaders from Color of Change, grassroots organizers from states like Georgia and Michigan, and civil rights attorneys connected to landmark cases in federal appellate courts and the United States Supreme Court.

Personal life

Sanders resides in Washington, D.C. and maintains an active public profile on social media platforms and at speaking engagements hosted by universities, such as Howard University and Georgetown University, and conferences organized by groups like the Aspen Institute and the TED community. She has collaborated with mentors and colleagues from political circles including former staffers to Barack Obama and advisors to Hillary Clinton and continues to advise on civic engagement projects that intersect with philanthropic foundations and national coalitions.

Category:Living people Category:1989 births Category:American political commentators Category:People from Omaha, Nebraska