Jesse Jackson's Legacy Lives On in Vermont Progressives

The civil rights leader's presidential campaigns in the 1980s helped shape Vermont's political landscape for decades to come.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Jesse Jackson's two presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, though unsuccessful, had a significant impact on progressive politics in Vermont and beyond. His 'Rainbow Coalition' organizing model energized a multiracial coalition of Black, Latino, working-class white, and young voters that continued to influence Democratic and progressive candidates for years. In Vermont, the Vermont Rainbow Coalition formed to support Jackson's campaigns evolved into the statewide Progressive Coalition and later the Vermont Progressive Party, which has become one of the most successful third parties in the country.

Why it matters

Jesse Jackson's presidential runs were historic in bringing together a diverse coalition of voters around a progressive agenda. In Vermont, this organizing model took root and helped shift the state's political landscape leftward, laying the groundwork for the rise of figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who have championed similar causes.

The details

Though Vermont was an unlikely fit for Jackson's campaigns, he managed to win over 26% of the state's Democratic primary vote in 1988. This success was due in part to the influx of new residents to Vermont in the 1970s and 1980s, which was changing the state's demographics and political culture. The Vermont Rainbow Coalition formed during Jackson's 1984 run kept organizing after the campaign, endorsing progressive candidates for state and local office. This group later merged with Burlington's Progressive Coalition to form the statewide Progressive Coalition, which evolved into the Vermont Progressive Party - one of the most successful third parties in the country.

  • Jesse Jackson ran for president in 1984 and 1988.
  • The Vermont Rainbow Coalition was formed in 1984 to support Jackson's campaign.
  • The Vermont Rainbow Coalition merged with Burlington's Progressive Coalition in 1992 to form the statewide Progressive Coalition.
  • The Progressive Coalition later evolved into the Vermont Progressive Party, which gained 'major party' status in the state in the early 2000s.

The players

Jesse Jackson

A civil rights activist and organizer who ran for president in 1984 and 1988, helping to energize a multiracial 'Rainbow Coalition' of voters that influenced progressive politics for decades.

Bernie Sanders

A U.S. Senator from Vermont who served as mayor of Burlington as an 'independent socialist' and later ran for president in 2016 and 2020, championing a progressive agenda similar to Jackson's.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

A U.S. Representative from New York who was a Sanders campaign organizer and remains a close ally, representing a new generation of progressive leaders.

Vermont Progressive Party

A successful third party in Vermont that emerged out of the state's Progressive Coalition, which had its roots in the Vermont Rainbow Coalition formed to support Jackson's presidential campaigns.

Bert Johnson

A professor of political science at Middlebury College in Vermont who has researched the lasting impact of Jesse Jackson's campaigns in the state.

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What they’re saying

“If I win Vermont, the nation will never be the same again.”

— Jesse Jackson

“Jesse Jackson is one of the very most significant political leaders in this country in the last 100 years. Jesse's contribution to modern history is not just bringing us together – it is bringing us together around a progressive agenda.”

— Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator

The takeaway

Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns in the 1980s had a lasting impact on progressive politics, not just in Vermont but across the country. His 'Rainbow Coalition' organizing model helped lay the groundwork for the rise of figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, demonstrating the power of bringing together diverse constituencies around a shared progressive vision.