Maryam Javed ’21
Opinions Editor
KWTX
Senator Bernie Sanders has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race, paving former Vice President Joe Biden’s path toward the Democratic nomination. In many ways, his exit is similar to his defeat in the 2016 presidential race. In both election cycles, Sanders faced difficulty rallying support from the Democratic establishment and moderates. Sanders also struggled to appeal to African-American voters, which is something that former Vice President Biden excelled at. Even after Sanders’ shocking defeat on Super Tuesday and losses in states by great margins, including in Michigan, where he was projected to have more success, he remained hopeful in pursuing his campaign. However, amidst the outbreak of COVID-19, Sanders is now moving in a different direction.
Sanders cited the ongoing pandemic as one of the main reasons for ending his campaign. As a result of the national crisis, there are no more rallies, in-person campaign events, and primary elections in many states are being delayed altogether. Sanders could not in “good conscience” continue his campaign, calling the path to victory “virtually impossible.” He called Joe Biden a decent man and said that he would work with him to move his progressive ideas forward and defeat Donald Trump, calling Trump the country’s most dangerous president in American history.
Despite the suspension of Sanders’ campaign, his name will remain on the ballot in dozens of states that have postponed their primary elections. Although Sanders is supporting Biden, he still wants to push forth the progressive ideas he has been fighting for throughout his political career, including raising the minimum wage and Medicare For All.
Sanders might have dropped out of the presidential race, but he won the hearts and minds of many American people. To many, Sanders has won the ideological battle. He sees his bid for the Democratic nomination not as a campaign but as a movement. Biden has even been open to some of Sanders’ ideas and wants support from his followers in an effort to unite the Democratic party and defeat Donald Trump. I believe that these ideas that Sanders has been fighting for will carry on and become a focal point of this election.
