Sen. Bernie Sanders Credit: File: Eric Tadsen
Updated Wednesday, August 22, at 12:32 p.m.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has officially turned down the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office.

Sanders, who took home nearly 91 percent of the vote in last week’s Democratic primary, informed the state last Friday that he would decline the nomination, according to elections director Will Senning. Neither the candidate nor the Secretary of State’s Office announced the move at the time, though it hardly comes as a surprise.

A longtime independent, Sanders has sought the Democratic nomination since he first ran for the Senate in 2006, in order to prevent another candidate from taking the ballot line. Each time he has declined the nomination upon winning it. His staff made clear from the start of this year’s campaign that this time would be no different.

On Tuesday, the Sanders campaign sent a second letter to the Secretary of State’s Office turning down the Vermont Progressive Party’s nomination. While Sanders did not appear on the Progressive primary ballot, he received enough write-in votes — 434 — to win that party’s nomination, too.

“Senator Sanders is very proud that almost 91% of Vermont Democrats cast their ballots for him last Tuesday,” campaign manager Shannon Jackson said in a statement Tuesday. “They know he is fighting every day for them and their families.”

Jackson said his boss would “continue to vigorously support Democratic candidates up and down the ballot in Vermont and across the country who are standing up against the disastrous Trump administration and fighting for economic, racial, social and environmental justice.”

The Vermont Democratic Party appeared ready for the candidate’s decision. In a statement issued last Thursday, the day before Sanders turned down the nomination, VDP spokesperson R. Christopher Di Mezzo called the senator “a powerful voice for Democratic values, issues and candidates.” He said the party expected Sanders to decline the nomination but would nevertheless “fully and enthusiastically endorse” him at its September state committee meeting.

“With or without the Democratic label next to his name on the ballot, Bernie Sanders is our candidate for U.S. Senate,” Di Mezzo said.

Other Democrats have been less forgiving. When Sanders sought the party’s presidential nomination in 2016, detractors criticized his longstanding unwillingness to run with a “D” after his name.

“He isn’t a Democrat — that’s not a smear, that’s what he says,” wrote Sanders’ rival for the nomination, Hillary Clinton, in her post-campaign book, What Happened, adding, “I am proud to be a Democrat and I wish Bernie were too.”

Sanders’ supporters have noted that he caucuses with Senate Democrats, votes for its majority leader candidates and even serves in its leadership structure.

H. Brooke Paige, a perennial candidate for statewide office, narrowly secured the Republican nomination to challenge Sanders, with 26.5 percent of his party’s vote. But Paige, who won five other nominations last week, has said he may decline one or more of them.

Taylor Dobbs contributed reporting.

Related Stories

Got something to say?

Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!

Paul Heintz was part of the Seven Days news team from 2012 to 2020. He served as political editor and wrote the "Fair Game" political column before becoming a staff writer.

12 replies on “Bernie Sanders Declines Democratic Senatorial Nomination”

  1. Oh, again. Bernie is above the real-world struggles of the people. Now that he’s a millionare. .

    Can it, Bernie.

  2. What happened to Bernie’s promise when he ran for president that he would remain a Democrat for life?

    “But hes a member of the Democratic Party now for life? Halperin pressed.

    Yes, he is, Weaver said. Yes, he is.

    Sanders Senate office has identified him as an independent as recently as April 1.” https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-pr… Se also: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/dem-pr…

    Ask yourself why actual Democrats (party officials, etc.) might have problems with a candidate who eschews their party at every opportunity, except when it gives him a platform for a presidential run and perhaps you’ll have some clue as to why party officials expressed themselves as they did in the emails the Russians hacked for Trump.

  3. Hey old Socialist crook Bernie.. I call Bull sh-t on everything you claim. You’re a democrat when it benefits you and then pretends to be an independent, which we all know you’re just a socialist fraud. He doesn’t care about Vermont. Name one good thing he has done for Vermont and you can’t count him naming a Post office

  4. While most of his policies are good & noble,he is responsible for the trump Nightmare which
    certainly cancels out his good intentions. Is Elizabeth Warren next ?

  5. calm down. calm down. Bernie Sanders will NEVER be the President of the United States/.

  8. I’m queasy about this apparently legit bait’n’switch tactic. It seems so manipulative of the voters. Either tighten the regulations about party declarations or do away with all such labels and let people run as themselves.

  10. The Democrat Party should embrace their proud Democrat candidate who came in second in the primary, Folasade Adeluola, who desperately wants the “D” after her name in the General Election ! Since Bernie has tossed the Democrat nomination like it was a piece of trash, should someone who wants the designation be allowed to have it ? Democrats should look into this wonderful lady who fought for Mr. Clinton and is in this race because Bernie ruined Clinton’s chance to be the first woman president ! Nothing more dangerous than a woman’s scorn ! Look Out Bernie !

  11. What difference does it make what party you join or not!Sanders is pushing Medicare for All..practically free college..like it was back when I went to nursing school..paid for my books and uniforms..our government paid the rest.Is there a problem with that?Programs to help our old and disabled and our vets.Plans to rebuild our infrastructure..sounds like a plan FOR THE PEOPLE….instead of for the corporations and oligarchs..Lets just keep cutting off our nose to spite our face..I just love living in a country where our ELECTED officials keep ignoring the people who elected them..!Oh and by the way..Bernie never said he would remain a Democrat for life after 2016..the Vermont Democrats passed a resolution..Google it.!

Comments are closed.