Hold onto your hats, folks—Senator Bernie Sanders has just thrown his weight behind a New York City politician with a past that’s raising more than a few eyebrows.
In a move that’s got conservatives scratching their heads, Sanders endorsed Justin Brannan, a Democratic councilman vying for city comptroller, while a damning review of Brannan’s old online posts from his punk rock days reveals a laundry list of offensive remarks, Fox News reported.
Sanders, never shy about championing progressive causes, praised Brannan as someone who “would fight corruption and stand for the working class.” But one has to wonder if the senator did a deep dive into Brannan’s digital history before signing that endorsement check. After all, skeletons in the closet tend to rattle louder than campaign promises.
Brannan, currently a New York City councilmember, is running to replace Brad Lander as city comptroller, with a campaign that touts values of community and mutual support drawn from his music scene roots. His website proudly states that “people look out for one another,” which sounds noble enough. Yet, the irony isn’t lost on those who’ve seen what he posted online decades ago.
Back in the 1990s, when Brannan was strumming chords and stirring controversy as a punk musician, his online presence was anything but supportive. A Fox News Digital review uncovered a slew of posts laced with racist, sexist, and homophobic content that would make even the most forgiving progressive wince. It’s a far cry from the image of a caring public servant he’s selling today.
Specific examples paint a grim picture of Brannan’s past rhetoric. In 1999, he tossed around the N-word in music listserv posts and made derogatory quips about Asians, including lazy stereotypes about their driving skills. These aren’t just youthful missteps—they’re the kind of words that stick like mud on a campaign trail.
Brannan didn’t stop at racial slurs; his 1990s posts also included a disturbing obsession with Nazi aesthetics, joking about a shaved head making him “more intimidating” while smacking around his critics. Add to that his cruel mockery of a disabled listserv member with vicious taunts about their condition, and you’ve got a pattern that’s tough to dismiss as mere “edgy humor.”
One particularly vile post from the era has Brannan sneering, “Guess what I did today? I walked up and down stairs.” The follow-up, mocking the person’s inability to do the same, is the kind of jab that doesn’t just sting—it scars.
His disdain wasn’t limited to individuals, either. After returning from shows in Puerto Rico in 1999, Brannan made sweeping, derogatory generalizations about Puerto Ricans while frequently using anti-gay slurs in casual online jabs. For a man now running on a platform of inclusivity, these archived posts are a glaring contradiction.
Beyond the digital dirt, Brannan’s more recent history as a city staffer raises additional red flags. He, along with other city employees, was accused of bullying an autistic colleague, a case so severe it led to an $850,000 settlement paid by the city in 2021, as reported by the New York Post. Actions, as they say, often speak louder than apologies—or silence, since neither Brannan’s nor Sanders’ offices responded to requests for comment.
Now, let’s circle back to Sanders’ glowing endorsement of Brannan as a fighter for the working class. It’s hard not to raise an eyebrow when the man in question has a documented history of punching down rather than lifting up. Perhaps the senator’s definition of “standing for the people” needs a footnote or two.
Brannan’s campaign narrative leans heavily on his punk rock ethos of community care, a commendable ideal if it weren’t so overshadowed by his past. When your old posts include slurs and sneers at the vulnerable, claiming to “pick each other up” feels more like a lyric than a lived value.
As the New York City primary election approaches on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Brannan’s bid to replace Brad Lander—who’s now running for mayor amid his legal troubles with federal authorities—will test whether voters can overlook a checkered history.
Lander’s recent arrest for allegedly interfering with immigration enforcement only adds another layer of chaos to this political circus. Sanders, meanwhile, doubled down on progressive picks by also endorsing Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, for mayor.
It’s clear the senator is banking on a leftward surge, but aligning with figures like Brannan might be a gamble even the most optimistic oddsmaker would hesitate to take. After all, in politics, baggage weighs heavier than endorsements.
