NEW YORK —Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont mentioned Tuesday that he would forgo one other presidential bid of his personal and as a substitute endorse President Joe Biden’s reelection.

The main progressive, who was Biden’s chief rival within the 2020 Democratic presidential major, informed The Associated Press that he would “do everything I can to see the president is reelected.”

“The last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue who is going to try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman’s right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia,” Sanders mentioned in an interview. “So, I’m in to do what I can to make sure that the president is reelected.”

Biden on Tuesday introduced his determination to hunt a second time period, at the same time as polls counsel that voters in each events don’t need him to run once more. The Democratic president will face the winner of the crowded Republican major, which options former President Donald Trump and a half dozen lower-profile conservatives.

For a lot of the yr, Sanders had left open the potential for operating once more himself. On Tuesday, he mentioned that he wouldn't run and he discouraged any one other high-profile progressive candidates from doing so both.

His determination means that the progressive wing of the Democratic Party will in the end unify behind Biden’s 2024 bid, even when progressives aren’t enthusiastic about him.

“People will do what they want to do,” Sanders mentioned of different potential major challenges. “I think Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee. And my job, and I think the progressive movement’s job, is to make certain that he stands up and fights for the working class of this country and does not take anything for granted.”

Sanders’ determination additionally indicators that, at 81 years previous, he won't ever once more search the presidency.

The silver-haired democratic socialist with the thick Brooklyn accent emerged as a number one progressive voice within the 2016 presidential contest and was in place to safe the presidential nomination in 2020 earlier than his rivals unified behind Biden’s candidacy.

In forgoing one other presidential bid of his personal, Sanders mentioned he would proceed to combat for progressive insurance policies as chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions along with serving to type new labor unions.

“Running for president was a wonderful privilege,” Sanders mentioned. “I enjoyed it very much and I hope we had some impact on the nature of American politics. But right now, my job is to do what I can as chairman of the (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) committee, to see Biden gets reelected and to see what I can do to help transform policy in America to help protect the needs of workers.”

He mentioned it was too early to say what particular function he would play in serving to Biden win reelection in 2024.

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