Bernie Sanders: Upcoming Senate Term May Be His Final One

December 11, 2024 TruthUSA

At 83 years old, the Vermont legislator remains determined to encourage Democrats to regroup following their November setbacks by focusing more on the needs of working-class Americans.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a veteran progressive politician who has made two attempts for the Democratic presidential nomination, indicated that the six-year Senate term he will start in January is likely to be his final one.

“I’m 83 now. I’ll be 89 when I get out of here. You can do the figuring. I don’t know, but I would assume, probably, yes,” the independent senator from Vermont—who aligns with the Democrats—told Politico when asked about the likelihood of this being his last term.

His remarks follow his reelection victory in November, during which he has long championed progressive politics, particularly in discussions surrounding economic inequality and healthcare access. He has been a member of Congress since 1991 and has served in the Senate since 2007.

Sanders has consistently stated that Democratic leaders have not sufficiently tackled the economic issues faced by working-class Americans.

“The average American is hurting,” he expressed in the Politico interview. “You’ve got to recognize the reality of what’s going on. And I’m not sure that enough Democrats are doing that.”

He frequently highlights what he perceives as a disconnect between the party’s language and the everyday challenges encountered by his constituents.

He has urged Democrats to become more proactive in advocating for issues such as healthcare affordability and economic equity.

While Sanders’ influence within the Senate’s Progressive Caucus is significant—“Dozens of them are extreme progressives who share my views,” he noted—he recognizes that not all members of that group fully align with his vision.

“Some do and some don’t,” he stated, highlighting the ideological diversity within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Pointing to key priorities, Sanders identified stagnant wages, ongoing income inequality, and soaring prescription drug prices as pressing issues that resonate deeply across various demographic groups.

“We are the only major country on earth that doesn’t guarantee healthcare to all of its citizens,” he asserted during the interview, emphasizing that the United States pays “the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,” confidently outlining his “vision of where we need to go.”

In the wake of November’s loss by Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, along with the GOP’s takeover of both congressional chambers, Sanders suggested that the Democratic Party needs a thorough internal restructuring to regain the confidence of working-class voters.

Sanders was blunt in his post-election critique of the party, stating that Democrats had “[abandoned] working-class people” leading to the notion that “the working class has abandoned them.”

Shortly after these declarations, Sanders expressed his willingness to collaborate with Trump and his administration on specific matters.

“I look forward to working with the Trump Administration on fulfilling his promise to cap credit card interest rates at 10 [percent],” the senator mentioned in a social media post on November 15.

Andrew Moran and Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

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