US Senator Bernie Sanders says he will run for president in 2020
- Vermont Democrat controversially bowed out of previous election after leaked emails revealed his party plotting against rivals of Hillary Clinton
US Senator Bernie Sanders, the progressive populist who mounted a fierce challenge to front-runner Hillary Clinton in the 2016 White House campaign, said on Tuesday he would seek the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2020.
The 77-year-old announced his candidacy in an email to supporters, pledging to build a vast grass roots movement to confront special interests he said dominate government and politics.
“Our campaign is about creating a government and economy that works for the many, not just the few,” Sanders said.
The senator from Vermont launched his insurgent 2016 candidacy against Clinton as a long shot, but ended up capturing 23 state nominating contests and pushing the party to the left, generating tension between its establishment and liberal wings that has not entirely abated.
Emails released by WikiLeaks at the time showed Democratic National Committee members plotting against Sanders, including discussions about using his religion to undermine him.