Bernie Sanders Squashes Third Party Rumors: ‘Not Right Now, No’

Over the past weekend, an email from Senator Bernie Sanders to his followers sparked rumors that he might be setting up a new political party following the Democrats’ significant loss in the 2024 election.

However, in a recent discussion with The Nation‘s John Nichols, Sanders (I-Vt.) clarified that he is not currently looking to establish a third party to contend with the long-standing Democratic and Republican parties—not at this time, anyway.

“Not right now, no,” Sanders responded to Nichols, who inquired about the senator’s intentions regarding his recent email to supporters and the possibility of forming a new party.

In the controversial email, Sanders expressed doubt that Democratic leaders would “learn from their defeat and establish a party that aligns with the working class and confronts the immensely powerful special interests that control our economy, media, and political scene.”

While Sanders, who aligns himself with the Democrats in the Senate, mentioned he isn’t endorsing the creation of a new party at this time, he is advocating for situations where “it might be more beneficial to run as an Independent, outside of the Democratic primary process.” He also highlighted the importance of having more candidates from the working class nationwide.

“Real change in this country will emerge when an organized working class leads the charge for justice. We need candidates from the working class to help achieve this.”

Sanders pointed to the campaign of Independent Dan Osborn—a union steamfitter who nearly defeated two-term Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) while distancing himself from Nebraska’s Democratic establishment—as a future template.

“He challenged both political parties,” Sanders remarked about Osborn, who surpassed Vice President Kamala Harris by 14 percentage points in Nebraska and is now initiating a PAC to support working-class candidates in their electoral bids.

“He stood up to corporate interests,” Sanders continued. “He campaigned as a committed trade unionist. Despite lacking party backing and being significantly outspent, he managed to connect with working-class voters throughout Nebraska. His campaign was remarkable, and it demonstrates that Americans are fed up with the wealthy prospering. They feel that billionaires control both political parties. They are craving genuine change, and Dan’s campaign prominently addressed these issues.”

Following Trump’s victory earlier this month, Sanders has sharply criticized the Democratic Party’s current direction and its declining appeal to the working class.

“The Democratic Party is increasingly a party of billionaires, directed by high-paid consultants whose approach is to marginally alter a profoundly unjust oligarchic system,” Sanders told Nichols. “If we aim to achieve substantial change in this country, we must significantly increase class awareness in America.”

In his weekend email, Sanders accused Democratic leaders of being too closely tied to the billionaires and corporate interests funding their campaigns, which makes them inherently resistant to the transformative changes needed to “forge a diverse, multi-generational working-class movement” capable of challenging the country’s deeply ingrained economic and political inequalities.

“How do we attract more working-class candidates to run for office at all levels? Should we support Independent candidates ready to confront both parties? How can we better back union efforts?” Sanders posed in the email. “These are the political issues we must tackle together. It’s crucial that your voice is heard in this process.”

“Not me. Us,” he concluded, echoing the main slogan of his 2020 campaign. “That’s the only way forward.”