Republicans are starting to break out into celebration. This major thorn in their side will soon be departing Congress.
And this radical Leftist Senator has announced the end of their career in a bombshell revelation.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has hinted that his upcoming fourth term in the U.S. Senate will likely be his last. At 83, the Vermont senator reflected on the realities of age in a recent conversation with Politico.
“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 remarked when asked if he planned to step down after his next term.
Sanders recently secured a landslide re-election victory, adding another six years to a Congressional career that began in 1991, when he was first elected to the House of Representatives.
Over the decades, Sanders has become a defining figure in Leftist politics, despite officially identifying as an independent while caucusing with Senate Democrats.
The senator’s national profile surged during his 2016 presidential campaign, where his unapologetic advocacy for policies like Medicare for All and tuition-free college reshaped the Democratic Party’s discourse.
His ideas gained traction among many during the party’s leftward pivot after the blue wave of 2018 and the 2020 primary season.
However, in the aftermath of the 2024 elections, Sanders expressed frustration with the Democratic Party’s direction. The midterm losses, which saw Republicans reclaim the Senate and retain the House, spurred criticism from Sanders, who accused the party of straying from its commitment to working-class Americans.
“The average American is hurting,” Sanders told Politico. “You’ve got to recognize the reality of what’s going on. And I’m not sure that enough Democrats are doing that.”
Throughout his tenure, Sanders has been a champion of radical Leftist ideas. From his viral mitten-clad appearance at President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration to his role as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, he has maintained a reputation as a steadfast advocate for universal healthcare and economic equality.
Despite his alignment with President Biden during the 2024 election cycle and his caution against breaking ranks with Democratic leadership over issues like military aid to Israel, Sanders has not hesitated to challenge the party on matters of principle.
Last month, his push for an arms embargo on Israel failed, underscoring his willingness to stand apart from the party line.
As the second-oldest member of the Senate, behind 91-year-old Senator Chuck Grassley, Sanders’s decision to potentially bow out after his next term highlights broader concerns about the aging political class.
With figures like Senator Dianne Feinstein passing away at 90 and questions swirling about the future of leadership, Sanders’s possible departure marks the end of an era.
Even as he looks ahead to his remaining years in the Senate, Sanders remains focused on his vision for America, one that would be damaging for the country should it play out.
“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 said.
Sanders continues to hold a prominent role within the Senate, recently being re-elected as chair of outreach for Senate Democrats.
While his potential exit looms on the horizon, Democrats are hoping he and his radical policies stay in Congress for as long as possible.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
