Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is encouraging progressives to consider running as independents rather than as Democrats. In a recent interview, he criticized the party’s failure to address economic issues, warning that more candidates could run outside the party unless it changes course.
Sanders made his remarks in an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday while touring several western states with Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. According to the Times, Sanders said that a key focus of his recent tour has been promoting political engagement and encouraging candidates to “run as independents outside of the Democratic Party.”
He also criticized the influence of wealthy donors on the Democratic Party and its inability to connect with working-class Americans, saying that if the party does not make changes to engage grassroots leadership, more candidates will likely choose to run as independents across the country.
Sanders has been traveling nationwide as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” tour. In recent days, he has been joined by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez at rally stops in Nevada and Arizona. The tour, originally announced in a video last month, aims to rally working progressive supporters across the country to challenge the influence of wealth in politics and advocate for economic fairness, corporate accountability, and expanded social programs.
Sanders has served as Vermont’s U.S. Senator since first winning election as an independent in 2006. Before that, he represented the state’s lone congressional district for eight terms—also as an independent—and was Mayor of Burlington for four terms. In January, Sanders filed an amended Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, signaling a potential bid for reelection as an independent in the 2030 cycle.
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