Sen. Bernie Sanders, the 82-year-old socialist from Vermont, has announced his decision to seek reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024.
The announcement puts to rest speculation about his potential retirement at a time when the Democratic Party is grappling with concerns over the advancing age of its top leaders.
Sanders’ announcement also comes at a critical juncture for Democrats as they navigate a growing divide over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Hailing from a Democratic stronghold, Sanders’ decision virtually guarantees his return to Washington for a fourth Senate term.
He would be 88-years-old at the end of his fourth term.
His reelection bid is set against the backdrop of a potentially tough presidential campaign for the Democratic Party. Biden is facing former President Donald Trump, and he’s trailing Trump in almost every poll, especially in critical battleground states.
Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, has been a vocal critic of Biden’s handling of the U.S. relationship with Israel, even as he has praised much of the Biden administration’s domestic spending agenda.
Sanders’ long history in politics, including 16 years as a representative in the House and two unsuccessful bids for the Democrats’ presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, has made him a well-known figure both within his home state of Vermont and on the national stage.
His decision to endorse Biden’s reelection bid this year, after previously stating that he would forgo another presidential run, further solidified his position as a key player in the Democratic Party.