Navigate to News section

WATCH: Bernie Sanders Tears Up As Brother Casts Vote for Him at Democratic Convention

Representing Democrats Abroad, the candidate’s older brother paid tribute to him and their parents

by
Yair Rosenberg
July 26, 2016
Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Sen. Bernie Sanders waves to the crowd during the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images
Sen. Bernie Sanders waves to the crowd during the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images

On Tuesday night, the Democratic National Convention officially nominated Hillary Clinton for president. One after another, delegates from each state cast their votes for the nominee and the runner-up, Senator Bernie Sanders. At the conventions of both parties, the roll call is typically a festive affair, building to a celebration of the presidential candidate. But there are also poignant interludes. Arizona had a 102-year-old woman, born before women were granted the right to vote, announce its support for Hillary Clinton. And Democrats Abroad, which cast 17 votes, had a surprise for Sanders.

When the time came for them to announce their tally, Democrats Abroad had a representative cast nine votes for Sanders and seven votes for Clinton. That left one vote remaining. To cast it, they introduced a special guest: Larry Sanders, the older brother of Bernie, who lives in the United Kingdom.

“I want to bring before this convention the names of our parents, Eli Sanders and Dorothy Glassberg,” Larry said, his voice shaking with emotion. “They did not have easy lives and they died young. They would be immensely proud of their son and his accomplishments. They loved him. They loved the New Deal of Franklin Roosevelt and would be especially proud that Bernard is renewing that vision. It is with enormous pride that I cast my vote for Bernie Sanders.”

Watch the moving moment, and Bernie’s tearful reaction, below:

DNC roll call underway; @BernieSanders tears up as his brother says his parents would be proud of his campaign pic.twitter.com/LRU6YADMGC



— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) July 26, 2016

Yair Rosenberg is a senior writer at Tablet. Subscribe to his newsletter, listen to his music, and follow him on Twitter and Facebook.