Bernie Sanders laid out a comprehensive progressive agenda that he believes Democrats should pursue if Kamala Harris wins the presidency, during his address at the party’s nominating convention in Chicago on Tuesday.
While he only mentioned Harris a few times, Sanders delivered a passionate speech emphasizing the urgent need to enhance healthcare access, lower higher education costs, and increase the minimum wage. As he campaigns for a fourth Senate term this November, Sanders expressed confidence that Democrats could unite to bring about significant changes, similar to their efforts during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic with the American Rescue Plan.
“I mention this not to revisit those challenging times but to underline a crucial point. When there is political will, government can deliver effectively for the American people,” Sanders stated. “We must rekindle that will because too many Americans are facing daily struggles just to make ends meet.”
His speech echoed the themes of his previous two presidential campaigns, as he urged lawmakers to eliminate “big money” from politics, ensure healthcare as a human right, and confront major pharmaceutical companies. While he acknowledged President Biden and his administration for accomplishing significant progress, he also highlighted that much work remains ahead.
“There is still a great deal to be done,” he asserted. “We need the courage to confront wealth and power to achieve justice for people both at home and abroad.”
Sanders’ emphasis on policy rather than focusing mainly on the new Democratic nominee was particularly notable, especially after he had robustly supported Biden following the president’s challenging debate performance last month. Despite calls from some Democrats for Biden to step aside, Sanders wrote an op-ed stating that Biden represents the strongest chance to defeat Donald Trump.
In spite of concerns about Biden’s candidacy, Sanders has praised Harris, recognizing her as a strong candidate as she rapidly secured support from Democrats. In a recent interview, he characterized her as “a very strong candidate” and cautioned against complacency within the party. He has labeled Trump as the “most dangerous candidate” in U.S. history, a sentiment he has reiterated throughout the election cycle.
During his speech, Sanders highlighted his vision of economic populism in contrast to the proposals outlined in Project 2025, which he criticized as a rightwing agenda. “Let’s be clear: this is not a radical agenda,” he declared. “Radical is giving more tax breaks to billionaires, proposing budgets that cut social security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and allowing polluters to damage our planet.”
The convention crowd warmly welcomed Sanders, with the loudest applause occurring towards the end of his remarks when he addressed the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As a vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Sanders has also publicly questioned Biden’s response to the situation.
“We must put an end to this horrific war in Gaza, bring back the hostages, and demand an immediate ceasefire,” he urged, inciting cheers from the audience.
Pro-Palestinian protests have taken place throughout Chicago this week, aiming to draw attention to Biden’s handling of the conflict and seeking a change in approach from Harris. Progressives are eager to see how Harris will frame her stance on Israel during her address at the convention on Thursday.
As progressives await further details on Harris’s platform, Sanders expressed his readiness on Monday to support her path to the presidency. “On November 5, let us elect Kamala Harris as our president,” he proclaimed. “And let us advance toward realizing the nation we aspire to be.”