Comrade Izaac
Secretary General of the Alt-Historians Union
- Pronouns
- They/Them
while i understand the impulse to suggest that Sanders' perceived political radicalism may prevent him from gaining in the Suburbs in the way a more moderate candidate like Biden could, i will note that it's unlikely that it would have been enough of a dent in the Democratic appeal as a Party in 2020 to stop Sanders from winning Georgia on the back of the increasingly anti-Trump Georgian Suburbanites. contrary to popular belief and the typical dynamics demonstrated both outside of the United States and of course within most of post-War American political history, modern American Suburbs, especially intensely diversifying ones like Atlanta, have been more supportive of progressivism as a political movement than anywhere outside of Urban Centers, not less. not to mention, as is always the case with Bernie Sanders as a candidate specifically, he absolutely would have performed 5-7% better among Independents and traditional non-voters than literally any other Democratic candidate (except for ironically Micheal Bloomberg), which likely would have been enough to carry Georgia even if, say, 20-30 thousands politically moderate but still anti-Trump White Suburbanites in Greater Atlanta decided to sit things out.
this is all absolutely true, Republican super lock on the House would have prevented most progress outside of Sanders' demonstrated willingness to use executive authority to make change as President. although i would imagine the Republicans still would choose Trump and that would present it's own electoral counterbalances to Sanders' poor performance in the Suburbs in 2016. also, don't forget Russ Feingold, who absolutely would have won his race had Sanders been the nominee and carry Wisconsin.
Sanders' primary appeal in a timeline where Trump won reelection, beyond just a general sentiment of "Third Times The Charm", would be the fact that his entire critique of the Democratic Party from both an ideological and very importantly to the modern base of the Democratic Party, electoral perspective would have been proven correct not once, but twice, to much consequence. not to mention the type of socially and structurally destabilizing affects that could be unleashed by a Second Trump Administration, which would like drive political realignment and polarization even further. had Trump won again in 2020, the 2022 Midterms would likely reflect the substantial damages his reelection would have done to the Republican Party's coalition and traditional electoral machine. hell, we saw how bad it was ITTL without the man even being President.
Sanders' 2024 Administration would almost be entirely defined by, like you said, his attempt to balance both a broad coalition and the very real desire for real social and economic reform that exists within most of the major demographics in America, especially the ones that drive the Democratic Party. if he was given healthy majorities, it's very likely that the "moderates" (who are dying as a faction currently, to say nothing of what would happen to them should they have lost to Trump a second time) would be far more willing to cooperate with Sanders on even some of his more "radical" reforms for the simple sake of keeping the American State and broader society functioning and that sweet sweet fundraising money coming in from voters who are actually satisfied instead of terrified for once.
Sanders would absolutely be a one-term President should he have been elected in ATL 2024, there was already musings within Sanders' orbit (including from the man himself) that he would have only served one term had he been elected in 2020, which makes even more sense in light of the rumors that Sanders is considering retiring from the Senate at the end of this term.
