Progressive champion and two-time presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders announces re-election bid

Saying that "today I am announcing my intention to seek another term" in the Senate, longtime independent Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday formally launched his bid for re-election.

The 82-year-old progressive champion who caucuses with the Democrats is running for a fourth six-year term representing the blue state of Vermont in the Senate.

Sanders, the runner-up for the 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential nominations, is the chair of the Senate's top health care committee, a senior member on both the Budget and Veterans committees, and is part of the Democrats' leadership team in the chamber.

"I have been, and will be if re-elected, in a strong position to provide the kind of help Vermonters need in these difficult times," Sanders touted in an on-camera announcement posted on social media.

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Sanders emphasized that "in recent years, working together, we have made important progress in addressing some very serious challenges. But much, much more needs to be done if we are to become the state and the nation our people deserve."

The senator, who has long worked to push the Democratic Party to the left, pushed for trillions in spending during the first two years of President Biden's administration, as the nation rebounded from the coronavirus pandemic. But his efforts to pass legislation expanding Medicare and weakening the filibuster were unsuccessful.

But Sanders has also worked to seek compromise with more moderate members of the Democratic conference and at times with the GOP minority.

While a Biden ally, Sanders has been a vocal critic of the White House and Democrats in recent months over their push to provide aid to Israel as it battles Hamas in the war in Gaza.

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