Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders joined Gov. Phil Murphy on the campaign trail at Rutgers University Thursday evening.

Sanders is the most popular name in progressive politics. He is an independent in the United States Senate, but ran for president twice as a Democrat.

Rallying at the New Brunswick campus, Sanders put a progressive stamp of approval on Murphy’s first term in office.

“I am here because your governor is one of the most progressive, if not the most progressive, governors in America,” Sanders said.

He expressed the importance of everyone coming out to vote on Nov. 2.

“It is absolutely imperative that every person in this room come out to vote. You bring your uncles, your aunts, your friends - let's do it,” Sanders said.

Following the rally, Sen. Sanders told News 12 that Murphy’s progressive policies are the future of Democratic politics.

“You have a governor here who has shown that he stands up for working people, stands up for women’s rights. Stands up for needing to deal with climate change,” Sanders said.

During a town hall in Fair Lawn around the same time, Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli told supporters that Murphy's reliance on bringing surrogates like Sanders and former President Barack Obama to campaign for him is evidence of Republican momentum.

“I don’t care if he brings in the ghost of FDR. We’re winning on Tuesday. We’re winning on Tuesday,” Ciattarelli said.

Sanders returned to the themes of his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, saying that Murphy needs to be reelected.

“To once again make people understand and believe that their government belongs to them and not to the billionaire class,” Sanders says.

Sanders rushed down from and then back to Washington D.C. for the rally. He is trying to ensure progressive priorities like paid family leave are in President Joe Biden's $1.5 trillion social spending network.