In a nod to Bernie Sanders and his coalition of young supporters, eight Democrats involved in key Senate races announced they would back debt-free college proposals.
Sanders energized thousands of young people across the country during the Democratic primary, promising “free college for all” — and now that message is reaching the congressional campaigns.
A spokeswoman for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) PAC told Inside Higher Ed that the group is urging candidates in both Senate and House races to publicly back the idea of debt-free education, and compared the effort to the campaign for universal healthcare in 2008.
Incumbent Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Michael Bennet (Colo.) joined a group of Democratic challengers to promote the message, including: Russ Feingold (Wis.), Ted Strickland (Ohio), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Kamala Harris (Calif.), Deborah Ross (N.C.), and Patty Judge (Iowa).
“We have to fight to ensure that graduates of public colleges and universities are able to begin their career without this growing burden,” said Patty Judge, the Democrat challenging Republican Sen. Charles Grassley in Iowa.
The other incumbent Republicans PCCC is trying to oust are Sens. Rob Portman (Ohio), Ron Johnson (Wis.), Richard Burr (N.C.), and Kelly Ayotte (N.H.).
It’s worth noting that statements from the candidates involved in this campaign have specified that they support the idea of “debt-free” college, not necessarily “tuition-free” college, but there’s no doubt the Democratic Party as a whole has begun to shift significantly on this issue after seeing the support Sanders received.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton recently adjusted her higher education plan to include free in-state tuition at public colleges for most families, and the 2016 DNC party platform is expected to include free community college.
