Sanders indicates his next term might be his final one
In November, a progressive icon secured reelection for an additional six-year term.
TroibNews 
In a recent interview with PMG, Sen. Bernie Sanders, a long-time leader of the progressive movement and former presidential candidate, indicated that his upcoming term beginning in January might be his last.
Having secured reelection in November, Sanders is set to serve an additional six years in the Senate. When asked if this would be his final term, he remarked, “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.”
Sanders has been a member of Congress since 1991, initially serving eight terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2006. While he has consistently emphasized his independence from party lines, he was a prominent candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in both 2016 and 2020, finishing as the runner-up on each occasion.
Throughout his career, Sanders has been instrumental in shifting the Democratic caucus in the Senate further left but now expresses concerns about the sustainability of progressive values in American politics. Following Donald Trump’s recent victory in the presidential election, Sanders criticized Democrats for neglecting the interests of working-class Americans.
He reiterated this perspective, stating, “The average American is hurting. … You've got to recognize the reality of what's going on. And I'm not sure that enough Democrats are doing that.” He acknowledged that many Americans value the Biden administration's efforts in lowering drug prices and enhancing infrastructure, yet he remains critical of factions within the party that he believes are disconnected from the working class.
According to Sanders, not everyone within Congress’ Progressive Caucus fully grasps the vision required for the party's future. “Some do and some don’t,” he observed.
Nonetheless, he expressed optimism about the Progressive Caucus, which he helped establish with five others in 1991 and has since expanded to over 100 members. “Dozens of them are really strong progressives who share my perspectives,” he noted.
Sanders pointed out that President Joe Biden, who represented the party’s centrist faction to win the presidency in 2020, has demonstrated that progressive ideas can be integral to the Democratic Party, highlighting Biden’s initiatives to reduce drug and childcare costs.
As Sanders prepares to lose his chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in January, he hopes to reclaim the role if the Democrats regain control of the Senate. He reflected on his legacy leading the committee, which includes increasing funding for the primary care system and holding pharmaceutical executives accountable for the high drug prices in the U.S. compared to other nations.
“We are the only major country on earth that doesn't guarantee health care to all of its people. And we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,” he asserted. “My vision is pretty clear as to where we have to go.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
Having secured reelection in November, Sanders is set to serve an additional six years in the Senate. When asked if this would be his final term, he remarked, “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.”
Sanders has been a member of Congress since 1991, initially serving eight terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2006. While he has consistently emphasized his independence from party lines, he was a prominent candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in both 2016 and 2020, finishing as the runner-up on each occasion.
Throughout his career, Sanders has been instrumental in shifting the Democratic caucus in the Senate further left but now expresses concerns about the sustainability of progressive values in American politics. Following Donald Trump’s recent victory in the presidential election, Sanders criticized Democrats for neglecting the interests of working-class Americans.
He reiterated this perspective, stating, “The average American is hurting. … You've got to recognize the reality of what's going on. And I'm not sure that enough Democrats are doing that.” He acknowledged that many Americans value the Biden administration's efforts in lowering drug prices and enhancing infrastructure, yet he remains critical of factions within the party that he believes are disconnected from the working class.
According to Sanders, not everyone within Congress’ Progressive Caucus fully grasps the vision required for the party's future. “Some do and some don’t,” he observed.
Nonetheless, he expressed optimism about the Progressive Caucus, which he helped establish with five others in 1991 and has since expanded to over 100 members. “Dozens of them are really strong progressives who share my perspectives,” he noted.
Sanders pointed out that President Joe Biden, who represented the party’s centrist faction to win the presidency in 2020, has demonstrated that progressive ideas can be integral to the Democratic Party, highlighting Biden’s initiatives to reduce drug and childcare costs.
As Sanders prepares to lose his chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in January, he hopes to reclaim the role if the Democrats regain control of the Senate. He reflected on his legacy leading the committee, which includes increasing funding for the primary care system and holding pharmaceutical executives accountable for the high drug prices in the U.S. compared to other nations.
“We are the only major country on earth that doesn't guarantee health care to all of its people. And we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,” he asserted. “My vision is pretty clear as to where we have to go.”
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
