Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) turned a warning from Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) about a Senate committee into millions for Democratic Senate candidates, the senator’s campaign announced Monday.
Sanders pulled in $2.4 million through fundraising emails that highlighted Ryan’s reference to the Senate Budget Committee.
{mosads}In an Oct. 14 speech in Wisconsin, Ryan said that Sanders would take over the panel if Republicans lost control of the upper chamber in November. Sanders is the ranking Democrat on the committee, which makes him the likely chairman if Republicans lose their majority.
Sanders soon after blasted emails with Ryan’s remarks through Our Revolution, a political apparatus he launched after ending his presidential campaign.
“It means that we can establish priorities for working people, and not just the billionaire class,” said Sanders in an email. “What would be equally exciting is if the Democrats took back the House, and Congressman Ryan was no longer speaker.”
Sanders’s campaign Twitter account announced the $2.4 million haul with a link to a page where donors can split sums among a slate of Democrats challenging House and Senate Republicans and vulnerable Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.).
“Nice majority you got there @SpeakerRyan,” the campaign tweeted. “Be a shame if someone flipped it. #ThanksPaul.”