On Tuesday (April 25), Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (Vt.) said he is supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection in 2024 and would forgo a third presidential run.
Sanders, who in 2020 finished second to Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, made the announcement hours after Biden officially announced his bid for a second term in the White House.
He also discouraged progressive politicians and individuals from challenging Biden, asking them to focus on defeating former President Donald Trump or whomever the potential GOP candidate will be.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Sanders said that “The last thing this country needs” was Trump or any other right-wing demagogue trying “to undermine American democracy” remove women’s freedoms or fail to address gun violence, sexism, racism, or homophobia.
Sanders then promised he would be doing everything to ensure Biden is reelected.
However, the Vermont Independent acknowledged that people would do what they wanted when tackling the possibility of a progressive challenger to the President.
Yet Sanders noted that even with the possibility of challengers, Biden would become the Democratic nominee.
Sanders also explained that it was up to progressives to ensure Biden “stands up and fights for the working class of this country” and doesn’t take anything for granted.
For much of the past year, Sanders, 81, left the door open to a 2024 Presidential bid, mostly if Biden, 80, declined to seek a second term.
Biden has teased for months that he wants another four years in office, but he waited until Tuesday to make the call official. The decision also means Sanders would not be seeking reelection.
