in the 2016 democratic party primaries tankian endorsed bernie sanders in august 2015. he wrote on facebook: "when it comes to standing up to the oligarchs, leading the fight for civil rights, income equality, and so much more, no other politician has been so consistent and incorruptible as bernie sanders." he praised sanders in may 2016, stating: "he's said what he's done and he'd done what he says in the senate. all his contributions are from private individuals; everyone else's are from major donors and corporations. it does not take a genius to see who's working for whom here."