In a CNN interview that aired on Sunday, Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized 2024 Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris for what he said was her prioritizing the interests of the wealthy over the working class during her campaign last year.
Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, lambasted the former vice president for being out of touch. “I like her, she’s a friend of mine, but her core consultants, you know, were heavily influenced by very wealthy people. How do you run for president and not develop a strong agenda which speaks to the economic crises facing working families? You know, more income and wealth inequality today than we’ve ever had.”
Sanders made his remarks in response to CNN anchor Dana Bash playing a clip of the Vermont senator making a similar point during his “Fighting Oligarchy” speaking tour.
“One of the reasons, in my view, that Kamala Harris lost this election is she had too many billionaires telling her not to speak up for the working-class of this country,” Sanders said in a clip from his tour, prompting applause from the crowd he was speaking to.
Sanders campaigned for Harris in 2024 and even made the case for her candidacy to critics of her position on the war in Gaza. Still, he didn’t hold back on where he thought her campaign went wrong.
“There are 60% of our people living paycheck to paycheck. You’ve got a health care system which is broken and dysfunctional—and, despite spending so much, we’re the only major country not to guarantee health care to all people. How do you not talk about these issues?” Sanders said.
Sanders has personal experience running presidential campaigns having participated in both 2016 and 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. He finished second behind Joe Biden in 2020, garnering about 26% of the vote. He earned about 43% of the vote in his primary bid against Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016. Sanders has been a U.S. senator since 2007 and currently serves as the ranking member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. He was also Vermont’s at-large member of the House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007, and the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, from 1981 to 1989.
“I think the clue to Democratic victories is to understand that you’ve got to stand unequivocally with the working class of this country. You need an agenda that speaks to the needs of working people,” the Vermont lawmaker added.
For her part, Harris has been discussing her presidential campaign in recent promotions for her forthcoming book “107 Days,” which documents the 2024 presidential race. Harris recently opted against running for governor of California in 2026, citing a desire to help “elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly.”
According to recent polls, Harris’ party faces a record level of unpopularity among American voters and has taken to drafting plans to win back the support of young men.