BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to keep his job. The independent announced Monday that he will seek a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.
In a one-on-one interview Monday, Sanders told our Darren Perron why he wants another term in the Senate.
“I feel, as the senior member of the delegation, a certain responsibility to Vermont– and the nation– not to turn my back on the enormous problems facing this country and our state,” said Sanders, I-Vermont.
Problems, he says, like climate change, reducing prescription drug costs, shoring up Social Security and programs that help seniors and working families.
Sanders says he’s got more fight in him and he wants another round.
Reporter Darren Perron: You’re 82. You’ll be 83 by the time the election rolls around. Did age play a role? As you know, it’s playing a role in the presidential race right now.
Sen. Bernie Sanders: Yeah, it did. And let me be very clear. I would not be seeking reelection if I did not believe I could devote all my energy 24-7 to the very difficult job I have.
Darren Perron: Did Donald Trump play a role in your decision to run?
Sen. Bernie Sanders: Yeah, he did. I consider Donald Trump to be the most dangerous president we have ever had, not just because of his views on this or that issue; that’s secondary. Donald Trump does not believe in the foundation of American democracy. He does not believe in the rule of law.
Sanders says he’ll do whatever he can to keep the former president out of the Oval Office. But where he’s butting heads with the current president is over the war in Gaza. He opposes more aid to Israel because of the humanitarian crisis.
Darren Perron: You called this ethnic cleansing. Those are strong words.
Sen. Bernie Sanders: What that means is what is going on… But they have been driven out of their homes and pushed in enclaves and sometimes those enclaves have been bombed. That’s what ethnic cleansing is about.
Sanders is credited with transforming Democratic politics, pulling the party left through his decades on Capitol Hill. He began in the U.S. House in 1991 and was elected to the Senate in 2007. He had two failed presidential bids. But those runs solidified him as a political heavyweight, and not just among seniors but young people, too.
“I want to see the Democratic Party open its doors to working-class people,” Sanders said.
He says younger voters are more progressive than ever and face financial obstacles not seen in generations.
Sanders’ rallying calls remained the same for decades: working families need better wages to pay for things like homes and the rich need to pay more in taxes to help them.
“Unless we turn it around, Darren, that generation will have a lower standard of living than their parents,” Sanders said.
So far, perennial independent candidate Cris Ericson, Republican Gerald Malloy and Democrat Jon Svitavsky have announced their intentions to run against Sanders.
Our Darren Perron will have much more with Sen. Sanders this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on Channel 3 on “You Can Quote Me.”