You probably didn't expect the quiet, suburban streets of Folsom to look like a scene from a presidential primary in the middle of a non-election year. But on April 15, 2025, that is exactly what happened. Bernie Sanders and AOC in Folsom wasn't just another stop on a political map; it was a massive, two-mile-long line of people snaking through the Lexington Hills neighborhood, waiting for hours in the California sun just to hear about the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour.
Honestly, it was a bit surreal.
Folsom is often tagged as "Trump Country." It’s a place represented by Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley, a vocal critic of the very progressivism Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez embody. So when 26,000 people—some estimates even hit 30,000—showed up at the Folsom Lake College athletic track, it sent a shockwave through the local political landscape. It wasn't just students, either. You had retirees in lawn chairs, parents with kids on their shoulders, and blue-collar workers who had driven hours from even more conservative towns like Placerville or across the border from Nevada.
Why Folsom? The Strategy Behind the Stop
The "Fighting Oligarchy" tour wasn't designed to play it safe. Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez deliberately picked "red" or purple districts. They wanted to talk directly to the working class in places where Democrats often get trounced.
The messaging was blunt. Sanders, wearing a dark blue blazer and a Folsom Lake College baseball cap, didn't hold back. He talked about the "billionaire class" and the way corporate money has basically hijacked the American government. He specifically called out figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump, arguing that the U.S. is tilting toward a system where a handful of people hold all the keys.
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"We believe in a government of the people, by the people and for the people," Sanders told the roaring crowd. "Not a government of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the billionaires."
It’s a classic Bernie line, but in the context of 2025, it felt different. It felt like a direct response to the frustration people were feeling over rising housing costs and the squeeze on the middle class.
The Scene on the Ground
If you weren't there, it’s hard to describe the energy. It was a mix of a protest and a rock concert. Music by The Philharmonik and dogpatch set the stage. But the real drama came from the sky.
As the speakers took the stage, a plane circled overhead. It was trailing a banner that read: "FOLSOM IS TRUMP COUNTRY." AOC didn't miss a beat. She looked up, pointed at the plane, and told the crowd, "It sure don't look like it today." The audience exploded. It was one of those viral moments that actually lived up to the hype in person. She focused her speech on the "extreme concentration of power" and the idea that Americans are being forced to choose between oligarchy and democracy.
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The Local Pushback
Not everyone was thrilled to have the progressive heavyweights in town. Congressman Kevin Kiley called the visit "ironic." He argued that Folsom is thriving precisely because it has rejected the policies Sanders and AOC promote. Kiley actually challenged them to a debate while they were in the district, an offer they didn't take him up on.
Outside the gates, the tension was visible. About two dozen Trump supporters stood at the corner of East Bidwell Street and Scholar Way. They waved flags and gathered signatures to recall Governor Gavin Newsom. There were some verbal jabs traded as people left the rally, and plenty of trucks with Trump banners honking their air horns. But according to the Folsom Police Department, things stayed peaceful. No arrests. Just a lot of yelling.
Misconceptions About the Crowd
A lot of people assume these rallies are just for "college radicals." That’s a mistake. While there were plenty of Folsom Lake College students like Carson Beatty, who was there to advocate for trans rights, there were also people like Patrick Vales. He drove in from Lake Tahoe because he felt working people need to stick together.
There were also people who had been Republicans their whole lives but felt abandoned by the current direction of the party. They were worried about things like Social Security and the cost of healthcare. Sanders’ focus on universal healthcare and trade unions seemed to resonate with a demographic that usually wouldn't be caught dead at a progressive rally.
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Key Takeaways from the Fighting Oligarchy Tour
The Folsom stop was part of a broader western swing that included Bakersfield, California, and Nampa, Idaho. The goal was to prove that progressive economic messages aren't just for San Francisco or New York.
- Massive Turnout: Reaching nearly 30,000 people in a suburban Republican stronghold is statistically significant.
- Economic Focus: The rhetoric focused less on "culture war" issues and more on wealth inequality, which has a broader appeal.
- Political Fragmentation: The event highlighted the deep divide within the Democratic party itself. Many attendees expressed frustration that the main Democratic establishment wasn't "fighting fire with fire" enough.
One of the more poignant moments came from Lorena Gonzalez, president of the California Labor Federation. She told the crowd there are "no neutrals" in what she described as a growing class war. That kind of language is intense, but for the people standing in that two-mile line, it felt like the only language that matched their reality.
What’s Next for the Movement?
If you're looking for where this goes next, keep an eye on the organizers. The tour wasn't just about speeches; it was about data. They were collecting RSVPs and contact info from tens of thousands of people in districts that are usually ignored by progressives.
Actionable Insights from the Folsom Event:
- Look Beyond the Label: The turnout suggests that "red" districts aren't monoliths. There is a deep-seated economic anxiety that transcends party lines.
- Organize Locally: The event relied heavily on local volunteers and student groups. If you want to see change in your own district, the "Folsom model" shows that bringing big names to unexpected places can act as a catalyst.
- Monitor Policy Shifts: Watch how local representatives like Kevin Kiley react to these incursions. If the "Fighting Oligarchy" message continues to draw these numbers, you might see a shift in how even conservative politicians talk about corporate power.
The event in Folsom ended with Sanders reminding the crowd that the movement isn't about him—it's about them. It was a calculated, high-energy moment that proved, if nothing else, that the political landscape in 2025 is far more volatile and unpredictable than the pundits like to admit.
To stay informed on future tour stops or local organizing efforts, you can check the official "Where We Go From Here" portal or follow local labor council updates in your specific region.