Bernie Sanders Runs for Fourth Senate Term in Vermont

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is vying for a fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday as part of his decades-long tenure as a staunch progressive voice in American politics.
The 83-year-old independent, who has championed progressive causes for years, faces a challenge from Republican Gerald Malloy, a veteran and business owner, in a race that could test Sanders’ enduring influence over the state and his broader agenda.
Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist who caucuses with Senate Democrats, has become a central figure in shaping the nation’s policy on health care, education, workers’ rights, and climate change.
While he’s not seeking the national spotlight this time around, Sanders’ position as the longest-serving independent in Congress means his reelection could have significant implications for the future of progressive politics in the U.S.
He told WCAX-TV during a recent debate “I did not feel with my seniority and experience that I could walk away from Vermont at this difficult moment in American history,” stressing that he believes the nation faces existential challenges, including threats to democracy, income inequality, climate change, and women’s reproductive rights.
Sanders’ main challenger, 62-year-old Gerald Malloy, is positioning himself as a fresh alternative to the senior senator.
Malloy, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer who spent 22 years in military service, has focused his campaign on economic growth, job creation, and securing the border.
The business owner, who also spent 16 years as a defense contractor, criticized Sanders for his long tenure in Congress, suggesting that after 34 years, Sanders is out of touch with the needs of Vermonters.
“I thought Bernie was going to retire,” Malloy said during the debate. “I have 40 years of relevant experience—business, government, military, foreign policy—and I can do better than Bernie.”
Malloy, who opposes tax hikes and emphasizes the need to enforce immigration laws, is aiming to win over voters who feel that Sanders’ focus on national and international issues has distracted from the needs of Vermont communities.
As chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Sanders has been a consistent advocate for Medicare for All, raising taxes on the wealthy, addressing climate change through government action, and scaling back U.S. military involvement abroad.
His opposition to the military-industrial complex and his calls for a more equitable tax system have made him a polarizing figure in Washington, but also one who remains deeply influential among the Democratic base.
His stance on foreign policy, particularly his criticism of the U.S. role in the Israel-Hamas war, has set him apart from mainstream Democratic leaders.
Sanders has been vocal in his opposition to U.S. military aid to Israel, a stance that places him at odds with both the Biden administration and his party’s centrist wing.
Sanders endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris following President Joe Biden’s exit from the race in July, signaling his continued involvement in national politics.
He has often framed U.S. elections as pivotal moments for the future of democracy itself, warning against the growing influence of far-right politics, including the threat posed by former President Donald Trump.
Sanders first entered the political arena as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in the 1980s before serving 16 years in the House of Representatives.
His rise to national prominence came in 2016 when he nearly secured the Democratic presidential nomination, a feat he nearly repeated in 2020.
Sanders has said he has no intention of running again in 2024, opting instead to support Biden’s reelection before Biden withdrew from the race.
While Malloy’s candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders’ decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator’s enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press