Mark Ruffalo Endorses Bernie Sanders

By Judy Kurtz, The Hill

05 December 19

ark Ruffalo is endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the 2020 presidential race, saying the Democratic White House hopeful is "one of us."

Sanders's campaign released a video Wednesday featuring the actor, who plays the Hulk in "The Avengers."

In the clip, Ruffalo credited Sanders with bringing "key issues" such as climate change, health care and student loan debt to the forefront of the national conversation.

"People considered those things to be pie in the sky in 2016, right?" Ruffalo said into the camera.

"Now they are the norm because Bernie stood and walked into those issues that he knew were the right issues for the American working class."

"He is the original progressive," Ruffalo, 52, continued. "We need a leader who's actually one of us, and Bernie is one of us and he's always been one of us."

"[Sanders] will make an excellent and historic president in the very moment we are ready for it and need it most."

The endorsement from the "Dark Waters" star is far from unexpected given his vocal support of Sanders over the years, including in the 2016 White House race. At a red carpet premiere in Washington last month, Ruffalo told reporters that he believed the 78-year-old lawmaker will "beat [President] Trump's ass" in the 2020 election.

Last year, Ruffalo — a prominent Hollywood critic of the president — was one of several performers who participated in the "People's State of the Union," which he described as a populist alternative to Trump's address.

Ruffalo isn't the only high-profile entertainer who's thrown their support behind Sanders. Rapper Cardi B, singers Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus, and Susan Sarandon have all praised Sanders's 2020 presidential bid.