Here’s what Americans need to know.
Bernie Sanders, the self-described democratic socialist from Vermont, is preparing for what may be his final term in the U.S. Senate. At 83 years old, Sanders acknowledged that his next term, which begins in 2025, will likely be his last. “I’ll be 89 when I get out of here,” Sanders remarked in a recent interview with Politico, signaling that his time in the Senate is nearing its end.
Sanders, who has served in Congress since 1991, recently won re-election to another six-year term. Despite officially being an independent, he caucuses with Senate Democrats and has been a leading voice for progressive policies, particularly Medicare for All and wealth redistribution. His 2016 presidential bid, though unsuccessful, catapulted him to national fame as the face of the far-left wing of the Democratic Party.
Since then, the Democratic Party has shifted further left, embracing many of Sanders’ policies. However, as the 2024 election season heats up, some Democrats are beginning to walk back from some of these progressive stances, particularly on issues like border security and energy policy. Vice President Kamala Harris, for example, has recently tried to pivot toward the center on a number of key issues, reflecting growing concerns within the party about its leftward lurch.
In the midst of these shifts, Sanders has also expressed frustration with the direction of his own party. He has been outspoken in his criticism of Democrats for failing to address the concerns of working-class Americans, saying that many are “hurting” and accusing his party of abandoning them. This critique follows the Republicans’ success in flipping the Senate and holding on to the House during the 2022 midterms.
At 91, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is currently the oldest member of the Senate, but if Sanders were to run for a fifth term, he could potentially serve until the age of 95—something that has raised concerns about the physical and mental fitness of aging politicians. The untimely death of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) at age 90 further heightened these concerns, leaving some wondering if it’s time for a new generation of leaders to take the reins.
Sanders himself has said that he is not convinced that all progressives in his party fully understand the vision needed to carry the Democratic Party forward. Despite these differences, Sanders has supported President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, cautioning against abandoning the current Democratic leadership over issues such as U.S. military aid to Israel in the conflict with Hamas.
Throughout his career, Sanders has been the most liberal member of the Senate, according to GovTrack, and has used his platform to push for expansive social programs, including universal healthcare and prescription drug price controls. Yet, as his career enters its twilight years, it’s unclear who will step up to carry the torch for Sanders’ brand of democratic socialism and whether the Democratic Party will continue to embrace his vision for a more left-wing America.
For Republicans, Sanders’ potential exit is both a sign of his aging influence and an opportunity to rebuild the center-right coalition in Congress. While Sanders has certainly left his mark on American politics, the question remains: Who will fill the void once this outspoken socialist retires?