Senator Bernie Sanders expressed little surprise at the growing disillusionment of working-class voters with the Democratic Party, particularly in light of their support for Donald Trump in the 2024 election. He emphasized that the party’s failure to prioritize the needs of working people had led to this shift.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Vermont independent said, “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working-class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.” Sanders pointed out that this trend had first been seen with white working-class voters and now extended to Latino and Black communities. “While Democratic leaders defend the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right,” he added.
Although Sanders had just secured another term in the Senate, he expressed skepticism that the party’s leadership would take meaningful action. He questioned whether the influential figures controlling the Democratic Party—wealthy donors and high-paid consultants—would truly learn from the election results. “Will they understand the deep pain and political alienation that tens of millions of Americans are feeling? Do they have any ideas about how to challenge the powerful oligarchy that controls so much of our economy and politics? Probably not,” Sanders remarked.
The senator’s comments come at a time when the Democratic Party is facing setbacks, having lost the Senate majority and struggled to regain control of the House. Sanders, who was defeated in both the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, hinted at the possibility of further political actions. “Stay tuned,” he concluded, signaling that more significant discussions and efforts are ahead for those looking to reshape the party’s direction.
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