Sen. Bernie Sanders called for raising the federal minimum wage to at least $20 per hour, describing current pay levels as “starvation wages” during a keynote address at the Texas Democratic Party State Convention on June 27, 2026.
Sanders told the crowd that millions of workers across states, including Texas and Vermont, cannot make ends meet on existing wages. He framed the increase as essential to establishing a living wage nationwide.
The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 per hour since 2009. Texas follows the federal rate, while Vermont’s state minimum wage stands at $14.42 in 2026.
Sanders has long advocated for higher wages, previously supporting proposals to raise the federal minimum to $15 and later $17.
Sanders Links Wages to Cost of Living
During his speech, Sanders argued that raising wages is necessary to address the financial struggles facing working families. He said millions of Americans continue to live in poverty despite holding full-time jobs.
“No one in America can survive on $7.25, $10, or even $12 an hour in today’s economy,” Sanders said during the event.
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He reiterated his call for a $ 20-per-hour minimum wage, raising the target from proposals he has backed in previous years.
The remarks come as Democrats in Texas and across the country seek to rally voters around economic concerns. Sanders concluded his speech by emphasizing affordability and criticizing corporate influence in politics.
Current Minimum Wage Landscape
Minimum wage laws differ significantly across the United States. While 20 states continue to follow the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, others have enacted higher wage standards.
Some cities and industries, including California’s fast-food sector, have adopted a $20 minimum wage, producing mixed early results on employment levels and consumer prices.
A nationwide $20 minimum wage would nearly triple the current federal rate. Someone working full-time at that wage would earn approximately $41,600 annually before taxes.
However, living wage estimates vary widely depending on location, with workers in major cities generally requiring higher incomes than those in rural communities.
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Political Significance of the Proposal
Sanders, an independent senator who caucuses with Democrats, remains one of the party’s leading voices on economic populism. His appearance at the Texas Democratic Party convention was seen as an effort to energize progressive supporters and appeal to working-class voters in a politically competitive state.
The three-day convention in Corpus Christi focused heavily on affordability and other kitchen-table issues. Sanders’ address aligned with those themes while also criticizing Republican leadership.
Despite his continued advocacy, the proposal faces significant obstacles in Congress. Similar legislation Sanders has supported in recent years, including efforts to raise the federal minimum wage to $17, has failed to advance.
The federal minimum wage has not increased in 17 years despite repeated Democratic efforts.
