Sanders: Broward County needs progressive state attorney in office

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the former presidential candidate and icon to many in the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, is endorsing a candidate in the primary for Broward state attorney. His choice is Joe Kimok. “Joe Kimok is running for Broward County state attorney to dismantle a criminal justice system that criminalizes poverty, perpetuates institutional racism, and continues a failed war on drugs that has devastated communities of color,” Sanders said in a statement.

“He will work to end cash bail, the war on drugs and the school-to-prison pipeline,” Sanders said.

Kimok also has the endorsement of another national celebrity: John Legend, the singer-songwriter-political activist.

As nationwide attention has focused in recent years on what many progressives view as prosecutorial excesses and the perpetuation of a system of mass incarceration, elections for prosecutors — called district attorneys in many places — have drawn increasing attention.

Progressives have elected, and made dramatic and sometimes controversial changes, in Orange County, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

Broward State Attorney Mike Satz was first elected in 1976. He’s retiring this year and eight Democrats are running in the Aug. 18 primary. Broward is so overwhelmingly Democratic the winner of the primary is almost certain to become the next state attorney.

“After 44 years with the same state attorney, the people of Broward County have a huge opportunity to bring real change to their communities,” Sanders said.

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