Senator Bernie Sanders will run for reelection in November.
The 82-year-old announced on social media Monday that he will seek a fourth term in the Senate, saying it has been the honor of his life to serve in Congress.
"Today I am announcing my intention to seek another term," Sanders said. "I have been and will be, if reelected, in a strong position to provide the kind of help that Vermonters need in these difficult times."
Sanders went on to say the 2024 election is "the most consequential election in our lifetimes."
"Will the United States continue to even function as a democracy or will we move to an authoritarian form of government? Will we reverse the unprecedented level of income and wealth inequality that now exists or will we continue to see billionaires get richer while working families struggle to put food on the table?" he said. "Can we create a government that works for all of us or will our political system continue to be dominated by wealthy campaign contributors? These are just some of the questions that together we need to answer."
In a nearly nine-minute-long video, the Vermont independent mentioned what he feels are the top issues facing the nation today, starting with health care.
"In my view, the United States must join in every other major country on earth in guaranteeing health care to all of our people as a human right, not a privilege. And that's a fight we must continue to wage," he said. "We're finally beginning to negotiate prices with the big drug companies. But that is not enough. We need to take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and end the absurdity of Americans paying by far the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs."
He also touched on abortion access, saying "We must codify Roe v. Wade into national law and do everything possible to oppose the well-funded right-wing effort to roll back the gains that women have achieved after decades of struggle."
"I am proud of my 100% lifetime voting record in defense of women's rights and the absolute need for women to control their own bodies," he said.
On the topic of climate change, Sanders said we must take action against the deadly effects of a warming planet "by transforming our energy system away from fossil fuel and into energy efficiency and sustainable energy."
"We must work with every country on earth to cut carbon emissions and save the planet for our kids and future generations," he said.
Sanders reiterated his support for tuition-free public colleges and universities, canceling student debt, and ensuring quality care for veterans. He also said he would also continue to defend Social Security and Medicare from those who would cut benefits for seniors.
"We don't need to cut benefits. We need to expand them, and we can do that by demanding that the very wealthy start paying their fair share of taxes into the Social Security Trust Fund," he said.
Sanders wrapped up his announcement by criticizing the United States' role in the war in Gaza.
"Israel had the absolute right to defend itself against this terrorist attack, but it did not and does not have the right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people, which is exactly what it is doing," he said. "In my view, US tax dollars should not be going to the extremist Netanyahu government to continue its devastating war against the Palestinian people."
Sanders sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020 placing a close second to Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. During his time in the Senate, he has served as the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, as part of the U.S. Senate Democratic Leadership Team, and as a senior member of the Veterans Committee, the Budget Committee, and the Environment and Public Works Committee.