Really feel the Bern for six extra years.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 82, the second-oldest member of the Senate, introduced Monday that he’ll pursue a fourth time period.
“That is crucial nationwide election election in our lifetimes,” Sanders declared in a video assertion. “We should struggle to guarantee that we stay a democracy, not an authoritarian society.”
“The stakes are monumental,” he added. “That is an election we should not lose.”
Sanders will probably be closely favored to win re-election in deep-blue Vermont, which has not elected a Republican senator since Jim Jeffords in 1988. (Jeffords left the GOP in 2001 and served out his remaining time period as an impartial who caucused with the Democrats.)
The final Inexperienced Mountain State senator to stay a Republican by means of their complete time period was Robert Stafford, who served greater than 17 years earlier than retiring after the 1988 election.
Solely Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), 90, is older than Sanders, who will flip 83 on Sept. 8.
Sanders eschewed point out of age in his announcement and as a substitute ticked by means of his monitor report of championing progressive causes throughout well being care, housing, taxation and extra whereas insisting there’s nonetheless extra work to be carried out.
“We should struggle to guarantee that we’ve a authorities which represents the working households of our nation, not the billionaire class and rich marketing campaign contributors,” he mentioned.
The self-described “democratic socialist” is rated as essentially the most liberal member of the Senate, in line with GovTrack. A two-time presidential candidate, Sanders chairs the Senate Committee on Well being, Schooling, Labor and Pensions and has championed lefty wish-list gadgets corresponding to free faculty and a four-day work week.
Sanders was first elected to the Senate in 2006, succeeding Jeffords after 16 years within the Home of Representatives.
Previous to coming to Washington, Sanders served eight years as mayor of Burlington, Vermont’s largest metropolis.
Democrats are defending 23 seats within the November Senate elections, together with all three held by independents who caucus with the social gathering. Republicans are defending simply 11 seats on Nov. 5.
