Levi Sanders Lags in House Race, Says He's Fine Without Dad's Endorsement

Levi Sanders, the son of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is running for the House without his father's endorsement, but his pitch is not selling well, The Washington Post reports.

The 48-year-old is running on a platform that mirrors his father's in the race for New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, but he is well behind front-runners Maura Sullivan, a former Obama administration official, and Chris Pappas, a current New Hampshire council-member.

Levi Sanders has never held public office – he has tried – but has worked with his father on his political campaigns, including as a senior aide during the 2016 presidential election and as a consultant on his bid for Senate. But Sen. Sanders has not mentioned his son's race beyond a statement he issued in June.

"Levi has spent his life in public service to low-income and working families, and I am very proud of all that he has done," the senator said, according to the Post. "In our family, however, we do not believe in dynastic politics. Levi is running his own campaign in his own way."

His unfamiliarity with the right-leaning district makes him a longshot, according to New Hampshire political veteran Mike Dennehy.

"The perception is that it's his dad's agenda, and he doesn't have a true feel for the issues in the first district," Dennehy told The Weekly Standard.

Sanders says he is just fine without his dad's support.

"It's interesting psychologically, but you just build a lot more confidence and self-worth when you do things on your own," he said.

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