Bernie Sanders has revealed that his next term in the Senate will likely be his last, but he is confident he will go the distance for the full six years.
The progressive senator from Vermont and former rival of Hillary Clinton served 32 years in Congress, making him the longest-serving independent in US history.
Sanders is known for his aggressive socialist-style policies such as the Green New Deal, housing and health care as a human right, free college, and student debt cancellation. He has long been at the forefront of progressivism in the US.
To many, he is seen as the country’s most important progressive leader.
In November, Sanders was re-elected for a new six-year term.
When asked this week whether his next term will be his last, Sanders admitted that this is still up in the air, especially considering his age.
‘I’m 83 now. I’ll be 89 when I get out of here. You can figure it out. “I don’t know, but I guess it probably is,” he said Politics.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 19, 2024
This week, Sanders said his next term will likely be his last
The independent Vermonter has served on Capitol Hill since 1991
Sanders has worked in politics for almost his entire career.
In 1981, Sanders first delved into politics by winning his bid to become mayor of the country’s most populous city, Burlington.
During this time, Sanders even tested his musical skills by recording a folk album in 1987 called ‘We Shall Overcome’.
He later jokingly admitted that “it’s a really important CD because it’s the worst album in music history.”
After being re-elected as mayor three times, the independent mayor then successfully ran for the state’s at-large seat in the House of Representatives, where he served from 1991 to 2007.
After that period, Sanders ran to become a senator, where he has served ever since.
Despite his unique political positioning, when he ran for president in 2016 and 2020, he finished second in both elections, losing the nomination to Hillary Clinton and then to Joe Biden.
Since Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to President-elect Donald Trump a month ago, Sanders has been one of the most critical liberal lawmakers to criticize his own caucus.
Sanders faced a crowded primary with many fellow lawmakers, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, shown above next to Sanders
Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden (C) speaks as former Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (L) and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg listen during the Democratic presidential primary debate in Paris, Las Vegas on February 19. 2020 in Las Vegas
“The average American is hurting,” he said Tuesday.
‘You have to recognize the reality of what is going on. And I’m not sure enough Democrats do that.”
Although he is proud that his Progressive Caucus, which he helped pioneer the year he was elected to the House of Representatives, has grown exponentially since he first arrived in Washington.
“Dozens of them are really strong progressives who share my views,” Sanders said.
The caucus now has more than 100 members.