On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced his support for President Biden's 2024 re-election campaign and confirmed that he would not pursue a third presidential bid.
Sanders, the runner-up to Biden in the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, made this announcement shortly after Biden confirmed his intention to seek a second term in the White House. Moreover, Sanders urged progressive politicians and individuals not to challenge the incumbent President and to focus on defeating former President Trump or any other potential GOP nominee.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Sanders emphasized the importance of preventing a right-wing demagogue from taking office, stating, "The last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue who is going to try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman's right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia." He added, "So I'm in to do what I can to make sure that the president is reelected."
Regarding the possibility of a progressive candidate challenging Biden, Sanders noted, "People will do what they want to do," but he believes Biden will be the Democratic nominee. Sanders emphasized that his role, and that of the progressive movement, is to ensure that Biden continues to champion the working class and does not take their support for granted.
Over the past year, Sanders had not ruled out a 2024 campaign, largely contingent on whether 80-year-old Biden would opt for a second term. Although Biden had hinted at seeking another time for months, he officially announced his decision on Tuesday.
This development also confirms that 81-year-old Sanders will not make another attempt at the presidency. Sanders, who finished second to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to run for President, calling it "a wonderful privilege." He added, "I enjoyed it very much, and I hope we had some impact on the nature of American politics."
Sanders is the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. He is committed to focusing on his work in that capacity to help Biden secure re-election and advance progressive policy in the United States. Sanders is up for re-election for a fourth term as a senator in 2024; however, he has not yet announced his plans.
Login