This story has been updated with the new location for the event.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will join former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar in Amarillo on Sunday, June 22, for a public event addressing income inequality, corporate power, and progressive organizing in Texas.
Titled “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here,” the event at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts is part of a nationwide tour launched by Sanders to rally working-class Americans against what he describes as the growing influence of billionaires and corporations in U.S. politics. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., with the speaking program scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Attendance is free, but space is limited. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at berniesanders.com to secure a spot.
The tour, which began Feb. 21 in Omaha, Nebraska, has drawn large crowds in cities across the country, including 34,000 in Denver, 36,000 in Los Angeles and more than 10,000 in Greeley, Colorado, making it one of the largest progressive political rally series in recent history. Stops have included cities in both Democratic strongholds and swing or Republican-leaning districts, such as Iowa City, Kenosha, Warren, Las Vegas, Tempe, Salt Lake City, Missoula, and several cities in Pennsylvania and California.
Sanders, a Vermont independent, launched the tour following former President Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024. He has framed it as a response to what he calls increasing corporate control of government and policy. Joined at times by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Sanders has focused on issues such as universal health care, wealth taxation, and labor protections while encouraging grassroots organizing.
In Amarillo, a historically conservative region, the stop highlights the tour’s effort to engage with communities across ideological lines on shared economic concerns, including health care access and the effects of corporate consolidation in the Texas Panhandle’s agriculture and energy sectors.
O’Rourke, a former congressman from El Paso, has visited the Panhandle multiple times, including during his 2018 U.S. Senate race and 2022 run for Texas governor. He has emphasized connecting with rural and conservative communities on topics such as public education, voting access, and health care expansion.
“The Panhandle has been written off by a lot of politicians, but the people here matter just as much as anywhere else,” O’Rourke said in a previous visit. “When we listen to each other and organize, we can make real change.”
Casar, a Democrat from Austin who represents Texas’ 35th Congressional District, is a former labor organizer and Austin City Council member. Since entering Congress in 2023, he has focused on policies related to affordable housing, paid leave, and environmental justice.
Sanders is expected to deliver a keynote address focused on combating oligarchic power structures, while O’Rourke and Casar will provide updates on their work in Texas and strategies for organizing in red and purple regions.
The Amarillo Civic Center has issued restrictions for attendees. Prohibited items include signs, flags, weapons, hard water bottles, chairs, and large bags, with exceptions made for medical needs. ADA-compliant seating will be provided.
With the 2026 midterms approaching, the tour seeks to build momentum for progressive policies and connect attendees with local campaigns. Organizers, including Sanders’ national team and regional partners, are working to recruit full-time organizers and link volunteers with ongoing efforts such as labor advocacy, housing justice and economic reform.
The Amarillo Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts is located at 500 S. Buchanan St., Amarillo, Texas 79101. Livestream details and tour updates are available at berniesanders.com or on social media at @BernieSanders using #FightingOligarchy.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: US Sen. Bernie Sanders to bring ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ nationwide tour to Amarillo
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
